New Delhi:
You will be surprised to know that not just New Delhi and Mumbai, but 41 tier-II cities in India too are tackling with severe air and water pollution, according to the country’s apex pollution watchdog, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The 41 tier-II cities that are facing pollution include Tezpur, Rishikesh, Vapi, Angul, Sangrur and Gajraula. The CPCB is a body that monitors ambient air quality in 74 tier-II cities.
In order to curb pollution, the government will be spending Rs 553 crore in five years. Rs 70 crore is allocated in 2016-17, it is expected to be Rs 150 crore in 2020-21. “Analysis of data shows that 41 cities exceed the ambient air quality standard. In addition, these cities are also facing problem of water pollution due to discharges of untreated sewage,” Union Minister for environment, forests and climate change Prakash Javadekar had told Parliament on Tuesday.
As per CPCB estimate, the sewage from these cities will generate 2,696.7 million litres per day (MLD). However, their treatment capacity (only 233.7 MLD) doesn’t match the total sewage generated.
“Also, water quality monitoring indicates that the rivers are polluted in downstream of major urban centres due to large-scale water abstraction and discharge of untreated/partially treated waste water and not meeting the criteria,” Javadekar added.
The municipal corporations are not being able to manage the entire sewage generated with the existing infrastructure, said the minister.
The CPCB and the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) monitors the pollution in cities under the National Air Quality Monitoring Programme and National Water Quality Monitoring Programme.
According to the ministry, emission from automobiles, suspended dust, construction activities, industrial emissions and disposal of untreated and partially treated sewage are responsible for air and water pollution.
Several studies conducted in the recent past also highlighted the increasing pollution levels in India. Notably, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said that India houses 13 of the world’s 20 most polluted cities, which is a cause of concern. The steps taken by governments in India to tackle pollution don’t seem to be enough.
“These steps have contributed in reducing pollution in Indian cities. But for the various steps taken by central government, state governments and Union territories and other agencies, the level of pollution would have been worse,” Javadekar said.
