List of Most Polluted Cities/Towns

• Leapfrogging from BS-IV to BS-VI norms for fuel and vehicles since April, 2018 in NCT of Delhi and from 1st April, 2020 for rest of the country.
• Network of metro rails for public transport are enhanced and more cities are covered.
• Development of Expressways and Highways are also reducing the fuel consumption and pollution.
• Eastern Peripheral Expressway & Western Peripheral Expressway has been operationalized to divert non destined traffic from Delhi.
• Ban on all diesel vehicles older than 10 years and all petrol vehicles older than 15 years, in Delhi and NCR. (Hon’ble SC order dated 29.10.2018).
• Environment protection charges (EPC) have been imposed on diesel vehicles with engine capacity of 2000cc and above in Delhi NCR.
• Introduction of cleaner/alternate fuels like CNG, LPG, ethanol blending in petrol.
• Permit requirement for electric vehicles has been exempted.
• Promotion of public transport and improvements in roads and building of more bridges to ease congestion on roads.
• RFID (radio-frequency identity) system implemented by South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) for collection of toll and Environment Compensation Charges from commercial vehicles entering Delhi.
• Introduction of BS VI compliant vehicles across the country since April, 2020.
• Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) has been launched as an initiative to set up Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) production plants and make CBG available in the market for use in automotive fuels.
• Department of Heavy Industry is providing subsidy on e-vehicles under Faster Adoption and Manufacture of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India (FAME -II India) scheme.

• Notification regarding SO2 and NOx emission standards have been issued for Thermal Power Plants
• Ban on use of pet coke and furnace oil as fuel in NCR States since October 24, 2017 and ban on use of imported pet coke in the country since July 26, 2018, with exception for use in permitted processes (processes in cement plants, lime kilns and calcium carbide manufacturing units).
• Shifting of industrial units to PNG.
• Installation of online continuous emission monitoring devices in highly polluting industries.
• Brick kilns shift to zig-zag technology or vertical shaft or use Piped Natural Gas as fuel in brick making to reduce pollution.
• System and Procedure for Emission Compliance Testing of Retro-fit Emission
• Control Devices (RECD) for Diesel Power Generating Set Engines up to Gross Mechanical Power 800 kW developed.
• Development of low carbon strategies across sectors such as phasing out older coal based power plants, compliance of standards, City Gas Distribution (CGD) network, emphasis on improved power reliability in urban areas, etc.

• Notification of seven waste management rules covering solid waste, plastic waste, e- waste, bio-medical waste, C&D waste, hazardous waste and battery waste.
• Setting up infrastructure such as waste processing plants.
• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for plastic and e-waste management.
• Ban on burning of biomass/garbage.
• Bio-mining of three dumpsites at Bhalswa, Okhla and Ghazipur is being carried out.
• Under Central Sector Scheme on ‘Promotion of Agricultural Mechanization for in- situ management of Crop Residue in the States of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi’, agricultural machines and equipment for in-situ crop residue management are promoted with 50% subsidy to the individual farmers and 80% subsidy for establishment of Custom Hiring Centers. In 2022, the Scheme has been merged with Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) and SMAM has been merged with RashtriyaKrishiVikasYojana (RKVY).
• The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) on 17.09.2021 directed the coal-based Thermal Power plants situated up to a radius of 300 Km of Delhi to co-fire biomass based Pellets, Torrefied Pellets/Briquettes (with focus on paddy straw) with Coal (up to 5-10%).

• Expansion of air quality monitoring network of manual as well as continuous monitoring stations under programmes such as National Air Monitoring Programme (NAMP).
• Initiation of pilot projects to assess alternate ambient monitoring technologies such as satellite-based monitoring.

v. Other Steps:

• Public Grievances and Response System (PGRS) is developed under NCAP.
• Emergency Response System (ERS) has been prepared in NCAP cities.
• Air quality monitoring cell has been constituted across the country in NCAP Cities.
• Public Complaints regarding air pollution issues in Delhi NCR are taken through ‘Sameer App’, ‘Emails’ ([email protected]) and ‘Social Media Networks’ (Facebook and Twitter).
• Introduction of green crackers with low emission and noise levels. Green Crackers have 30% potential reduction of PM and gaseous emissions compared to conventional firework.
• Ministry is promoting people’s participation and awareness building among citizens for environmental conservation through Green Good Deeds that focus on promotion of cycling, saving water and electricity, growing trees, proper maintenance of vehicles, following of lane discipline and reducing congestion on roads by car-pooling etc.
• Extension of Ujawala Yojana to ensure shifting to cleaner fuel.
• Swacch Bharat Mission and Waste Management initiatives.
• The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) has come out with a policy to curb air pollution in NCR, along with a standard list of approved fuels for NCR for industrial and other applications.