Overall improvement in Delhi air quality: Javadekar

Replying to discussion under rule 193 on air pollution and climate change, Javadekar said,

"As per continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations data, there is general improvement in air quality of Delhi in 2018 from 2017," Javadekar said.

He said it is to the credit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that two important issues -- lifestyle change and climate justice -- were included in the preamble of the Paris Agreement.

Javadekar said the government has also taken initiatives for stringent emission norms for coal-based thermal plants and has closed Badarpur Thermal power plant from October 15, 2018.

As many as 2,800 industries have been shifted to PNG and CNG, he said, adding that distribution of LED bulbs, changed and enhanced pollution norms, waterways are among the initiatives taken by the government. He said 3,500 polluting industries are being monitored for all 24 hours to check air pollution.

Javadekar said the environment ministry also launched the National Clean Air Programme in January to tackle the problem of air pollution in a comprehensive manner with targets to achieve 20 to 30 per cent reduction in PM 10 and PM 2.5 concentration.

Awareness has to be increased to plant trees, he stressed. 'A jan andolan is required where people and the government will have to work in coordination. Beijing cleaned its air in 15 years, we will do it in lesser time,' he expressed hope.

Moreover, the minister said, over the vehicular emissions, BS VI emission norms would be applicable in the country from April 1, 2020, and this would lead to 80 per cent reduction in particulate matter emissions. He said 3.28 lakh people have been granted subsidy for electric vehicles.