Pollution, Assessment, Monitoring & Survey

MANDATE
Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981
Government of India enacted the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981 to arrest the
deterioration in the air quality. The act prescribes various functions for the Central Pollution Control
Board (CPCB) at the apex level and State Pollution Control Boards at the state level. The main
functions of the Central Pollution Control Board are as follows:

To advise the Central Government on any matter concerning the improvement of the quality of
the air and the prevention, control and abatement of air pollution.
To plan and cause to be executed a nation-wide programme for the prevention, control and
abatement of air pollution.
To provide technical assistance and guidance to the State Pollution Control Board.
To carry out and sponsor investigations and research related to prevention, control and
abatement of air pollution.
To collect, compile and publish technical and statistical data related to air pollution; and
To lay down and annul standards for the quality of air.

The main functions of the State Pollution Control Boards are as follows:

To plan a comprehensive programme for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution and
to secure the execution thereof;
To advise the State Government on any matter concerning prevention, control and abatement
of air pollution.
To collect and disseminate information related to air pollution.
To collaborate with Central Pollution Control Board in programme related to prevention, control
and abatement of air pollution; and
To inspect air pollution control areas, assess quality of air and to take steps for prevention,
control and abatement of air pollution in such areas.

 Pollution, Assessment, Monitoring & Survey

Objectives
National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP)
Central Pollution Control Board is executing a nation-wide programme of ambient air quality monitoring
known as National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP). The network consist of 332 operating
stations covering 121 cities/towns in 25 States and 4 Union Territories of the country.
The objectives of the N.A.M.P. are

To determine status and trends of ambient air quality;

To ascertain whether the prescribed ambient air quality standards are violated,
To Identify Non-attainment Cities
To obtain the knowledge and understanding necessary for developing preventive and corrective
measures;
To understand the natural cleansing process undergoing in the environment through pollution
dilution, dispersion, wind based movement, dry deposition, precipitation and chemical
transformation of pollutants generated.

 Pollution, Assessment, Monitoring & Survey

Monitoring Network
Frequency and Parameters Monitored
Under N.A.M.P., four air pollutants viz ., Sulphur Dioxide (SO 2 ), Oxides of Nitrogen as NO 2 and
Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) and Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM/PM 10 ),
have been identified for regular monitoring at all the locations. The monitoring of meteorological
parameters such as wind speed and direction, relative humidity and temperature was also integrated
with the monitoring of air quality.
The monitoring of pollutants is carried out for 24 hours (4-hourly sampling for gaseous pollutants and 8hourly sampling for particulate matter) with a frequency of twice a week, to have 104 observations in a
year.
Number of Monitoring Stations
There are 332 operating stations in 121 cities/towns in 25 states and 4 Union Territories of the country.
Table 1 provides state-wise and city-wise number of operating monitoring stations.
Monitoring Agencies
The monitoring is being carried out by Central Pollution Control Board; State Pollution Control Boards:
Pollution Control Committees; National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur.
CPCB co-ordinates with the other agencies to ensure the uniformity, consistency of air quality data and
provides technical and financial support to them for operating the monitoring station. N.A.M.P. is being
operated through various monitoring agencies, large number of personnel and equipment are involved
in the sampling, chemical analyses, data reporting etc. It increases the probability of variation and
personnel biases reflecting in the data, hence it is pertinent to mention that these data be treated as
indicative rather than absolute.
Operating Stations under National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP)

S.No
1

State/Union Territory
Andhra Pradesh

Visakhapatnam

Tirupati

Vijayawada

Kurnool

Ramagundum

Patencheru

Assam

Gawahati

City

Number of Operating
Monitoring Station

Hyderabad

Bongaigaon

Patna

3
3

Bihar

Chandigarh

Chandigarh

Chattisgarh

Korba

Delhi

11

Bhilai

Raipur

3
6

Delhi

Daman Diu & Nagar Daman Diu & Nagar

Haveli
Haveli

Goa

Ponda

Ahmedabad

Faridabad

Damtal

Vasco
Marmagao)
9

(incl.

2
Gujarat

Ankaleshwar

Jamnagar

Rajkot

Surat

Vadodara

Vapi

2
10

Haryana

Hissar

Yamuna Nagar

11

Himachal Pradesh

Parwanoo

Poanta Sahib

Shimla

Kala Amb

Baddi-Barotiwala

12

Jammu& Kashmir

Jammu

13

Jharkand

Dhanbad

Bangalore

Jharia

Sindri

Jamshedpur

Ranchi

1
14

Karnataka

Dharwar, Hubli

Mangalore

Hassan

Mysore

Gulbarga

Belgaum

1
15

Kerala

Kozhikode

Bhopal

Aurangabad

Maharashtra

Navi Mumbai (incl

TTC
Ind.
Area,
Taloja Ind Area)

18

Meghalaya

Shillong

19

Mizoram

Aizwal

20

Nagaland

Dimapur

21

Orissa

Rayagada

Kottayam

Cochin

Thiruvanantapuram

Palakkad

1
16

Madhya Pradesh

Indore

Jabalpur

Nagda

Gwalior

Sagar

Satna

Singrauli

Ujjain

Dewas

3
17

Maharashtra

Lote

Tarapur

Kolhapur

Mumbai

Ambernath

Chandrapur

Nagpur

Nasik

Solapur

Pune

Thane

Rourkela

Talcher

Angul

Bhubaneshwar

Cuttack

Sambalpur

Berhampur

22

Punjab

Jalandhar

Ludhiana

Naya Nangal

Khanna

Gobindgarh

23

Pondicherry

Pondicherry

24

Rajasthan

Alwar

Jaipur

Jodhpur

Kota

Udaipur

3
25

Sikkim

Gangtok

26

Tamilnadu

Chennai

Agra

Dehradun

Tuticorin

Coimbatore

Madurai

Salem

1
27

Uttar Pradesh

Anpara

Firozabad

Gajroula

Ghaziabad

Kanpur

Lucknow

Noida

Varanasi

Jhansi

Khurja

Meerut

2
28

Uttaranchal

29

West Bengal

Durgapur

Haldia

Howrah

Asansol

Kolkata

10

Total

332

 Pollution, Assessment, Monitoring & Survey

Findings
The ambient air quality data is available in Environmental Data Bank software.
Sulphur dioxide

The levels of sulphur dioxide are within the prescribed National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
A decreasing trend has been observed in sulphur dioxide levels in residential areas of cities like
Delhi, Mumbai, Lucknow, Bhopal etc., during last few years. The decreasing trend in sulphur
dioxide levels may be due to various measures taken such as reduction of sulphur in diesel etc.
and use of LPG instead of coal as domestic fuel. Also, conversion of diesel vehicles to CNG
may have contributed to reduction in ambient SO2 levels

Nitrogen dioxide

The levels of nitrogen dioxide are within the prescribed National Ambient Air Quality Standards
in most of the cities.
A decreasing trend has also been observed in nitrogen dioxide levels in residential areas of
Bhopal, Solapur etc. during last few years. The decreasing trend in nitrogen dioxide levels may
be due to various measures taken for vehicular pollution control such as stricter vehicular
emission norms etc. Vehicles are one of the major sources of NO2 in the country. Trend in
ambient NO2 is fluctuating in many cities despite steep increase in number of vehicles.

Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter

The levels of RSPM exceed the prescribed National Ambient Air Quality Standards in most of
the cities.
One of the major source of high RSPM levels is vehicles. The vehicle population is increasing
exponentially in many cities. This is the single major factor for high RSPM levels.
A decreasing trend has also been observed in RSPM levels in cities like Solapur, Ahmedabad
etc during last few years. Decreasing trend in RSPM levels may be due to various measures
taken such as reduction of sulphur in diesel, stringent standard of particulate matter in diesel
vehicles etc. Trend in ambient RSPM is fluctuating in many cities.
The reason for high particulate matter levels may be vehicles, engine gensets, small scale
industries, biomass incineration, boilers and emission from power plants, resuspension of traffic
dust, commercial and domestic use of fuels, etc.

Suspended Particulate Matter

The levels of SPM exceed the prescribed National Ambient Air Quality Standards in most of the
cities.
Trend in SPM is fluctuating in many cities. The sources of SPM include, vehicles, natual dust,
industries such as thermal power plants, sugar, cement etc., resuspension of dust, refuse
burning etc. Trend in annual average concentration of SPM is fluctuating in many cities.
Lower levels of RSPM and SPM were observed during monsoon months possibly due to wet
deposition. Higher levels of RSPM were observed during winter months possibly due to lower
mixing heights and more calm conditions.

Non-attainment Cities

CPCB has identified list of polluted cities in which the prescribed National Ambient Air Quality
Standards ( NAAQS) are violated. These cities have been identified based on ambient air quality data
obtained under National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP). Action plans are being formulated
and implemented to control air pollution in non-attainment cities by respective states.
LIST OF NON ATTAINMENT CITIES IN INDIA
S.No.
1

State/Union
Territory

City

Major Sources of
Pollution

Pollutants of
Concern

Andhra
Pradesh

Hyderabad

Vehicles

RSPM, SPM

Visakhapatnam

Vehicles, Industries

RSPM, SPM

Assam

Guwahati

Vehicles, Industries

RSPM, SPM

Bihar

Patna

Vehicles, Natural Dust

RSPM, SPM

Chandigarh

Chandigarh

Vehicles, Industries

RSPM, SPM

Chattisgarh

Bhilai

Industries

RSPM, SPM

Korba

Industries

RSPM, SPM

Raipur

Vehicles

RSPM, SPM

Delhi

Delhi

Vehicles

NO2 , RSPM, SPM

Goa

Panaji

Industries, Vehicles

SPM

Gujarat

Ahemadabad

Vehicle, Industries

RSPM, SPM

Ankleshwar

Industries

RSPM, SPM

Jamnagar

Industries, Vehicles

RSPM, SPM

Rajkot

Vehicles, Natural Dust

RSPM, SPM

Surat

Industries, Vehicles

RSPM, SPM

Vadodara

Vehicles, Industries

RSPM, SPM

Vapi

Industries

RSPM, SPM

Faridabad

Vehicles, Industries

SPM

Yamuna Nagar

Industries, Vehicles

SPM

Damtal

Natural Dust

SPM

Paonta Sahib

Natural Dust

SPM

Parwanoo

Industries, Natural Dust

RSPM, SPM

Shimla

Natural Dust

SPM

Dhanbad

Industries

NO2 , SPM

Jamshedpur

Industries

NO2 , SPM

Jharia

Industries, Natural Dust

SPM

Sindri

Industries, Natural Dust

SPM

Bangalore

Vehicle

RSPM, SPM

Mysore

Vehicles

RSPM

Kottayam

Vehicles

RSPM

10

11

12

13

Haryana

Himachal
Pradesh

Jharkhand

Karnataka

Kerala

14

15

Madhya
Pradesh

Maharashtra

Kochi

Vehicles, Industries

RSPM, SPM

Thiruvanan-thapuram

Vehicles

RSPM

Kozhikode

Natural Dust

RSPM

Bhopal

Vehicle

RSPM, SPM

Indore

Vehicles

RSPM, SPM

Jabalpur

Vehicles

RSPM, SPM

Nagda

Industries

SO2 , RSPM, SPM

Satna

Industries

RSPM, SPM

Chandrapur

Industries

RSPM, SPM

Mumbai

Vehicles, Industries

RSPM, SPM

Pune

Vehicles,

NO2 , RSPM, SPM

Nagpur

Vehicles

RSPM, SPM

Nashik

Vehicles

RSPM, SPM

Solapur

Vehicles, Natural Dust

RSPM, SPM
RSPM

16

Meghalaya

Shillong

Vehicles

17

Orissa

Angul

Vehicles,
Industries, RSPM, SPM
Natural Dust

Rayagada

Industries

RSPM

Rourkela

Industries

RSPM, SPM

Talcher

Industries

RSPM

Gobindgarh

Industries

RSPM, SPM

Ludhiana

Vehicles, Industries

RSPM, SPM

Jalandhar

Vehicles, Industries

RSPM, SPM

Alwar

Vehicles, Natural Dust

NO2 , RSPM, SPM

Jaipur

Vehicles

RSPM, SPM

Jodhpur

Natural Dust

RSPM, SPM

Kota

Vehicles Industries

NO2 , RSPM, SPM

Udaipur

Vehicles, Natural Dust

NO2 , RSPM, SPM

Chennai

Vehicle, Industries

RSPM, SPM

Madurai

Vehicles,

RSPM, SPM

Coimbatore

Vehicles

RSPM, SPM

Tuticorin

Vehicles

RSPM

Agra

Vehicle, Industries

RSPM, SPM

Anpara

Industries

RSPM, SPM

Kanpur

Vehicles, Industries

RSPM, SPM

Lucknow

Vehicles,

RSPM, SPM

Gajraula

Industries

RSPM, SPM

18

19

20

21

Punjab

Rajasthan

Tamil Nadu

Uttar Pradesh

Noida

Vehicles, Natural Dust,

Industries

RSPM, SPM

Varanasi

Vehicles, Natural Dust

RSPM, SPM

22

Uttaranchal

Dehradun

Vehicles, Natural Dust

RSPM, SPM

23

West Bengal

Kolkata

Vehicles, Industries

RSPM, SPM, NO2

Howrah

Vehicles, Industries

NO2, RSPM, SPM

Haldia

Industries, Vehicles

RSPM

 Pollution, Assessment, Monitoring & Survey

Air Quality Trends
Parameter- wise Findings
Parameter -wise trends are as follows.
SO2
Trend in annual average concentration of SO2 in residential areas of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and
Kolkata is depicted in Figure 1. Trend in annual average concentration of SO2 in residential areas of
Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Lucknow is depicted in Figure 2. Trend in annual average
concentration of SO2 in Jodhpur, Agra, Faridabad and Solapur is depicted in Figure 3. Trend in annual
average concentration of SO2 in Kanpur, Pune, Jharia, Patna and Varanasi is depicted in Figure 4. Low
levels of SO2 were observed in all the seventeen cities. A decreasing trend was observed in residential
areas of Delhi, Hyderabad, Kanpur, Lucknow, Mumbai and Pune. Decreasing trend may be due to
various interventions that have taken place in recent years such as reduction of sulphur in diesel, use of
cleaner fuel such as CNG in Delhi and Mumbai etc. Other measures include implementation of Bharat
Stage-III emission norms for new vehicles and commensurate fuel quality. Also there has been a
change in domestic fuel used from coal to LPG which may have contributed to reduction in ambient
levels
of
SO2.
NO2
Trend in annual average concentration of NO2 in residential areas of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and
Kolkata is depicted in Figure 5. Trend in annual average concentration of NO2 in residential areas of
Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Lucknow is depicted in Figure 6. Trend in annual average
concentration of NO2 in Jodhpur, Agra, Faridabad and Solapur is depicted in Figure 7. Trend in annual
average concentration of NO2 in Kanpur, Pune, Jharia, Patna and Varanasi is depicted in Figure 8. NO2
levels were within the prescribed NAAQS in the cities except Agra during most of the years. Agra being
a sensitive city, the standards are stricter. A decreasing trend has been observed in residential areas of
Faridabad, Kolkata, Solapur and Pune. Fluctuating trends in NO2 were observed in residential areas of
Bangalore, Hyderabad etc. Vehicles are one of the major sources of NO2 and their number is increasing
exponentially. The reasons for low levels of NO2 may be various measures taken such as banning of
old vehicles, better traffic management etc. The reasons behind reduction in NO2 may be introduction of
improved vehicular technology in the form of Bharat Stage -III vehicles, banning of old vehicles in some
cities, improved traffic management etc.
RSPM
Trend in annual average concentration of RSPM in residential areas of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and
Kolkata is depicted in Figure 9. Trend in annual average concentration of RSPM in residential areas of
Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Lucknow is depicted in Figure 10. Trend in annual average
concentration of RSPM in Jodhpur, Agra, Faridabad and Solapur is depicted in Figure 11. Trend in
annual average concentration of RSPM in Kanpur, Pune, Jharia, Patna and Varanasi is depicted in
Figure 12. RSPM levels exceed the prescribed NAAQS in most of the cities but a decreasing trend has
been observed in residential areas of Ahmedabad, Solapur and Kanpur. The reason of decrease in
RSPM levels may be implementation of stricter vehicle emission norms and commensurate fuel quality,
use of cleaner fuels, banning of diesel driven vehicles in some cities etc. Fluctuating trends have been
observed in residential areas of Chennai, Kolkata etc. Vehicles are one of the major sources of RSPM
and their number is increasing exponentially. The reason for high particulate matter levels may be
vehicles, engine gensets, small scale industries, biomass incineration, resuspension of traffic dust,
commercial and domestic use of fuels, etc.

Carbon monoxide
Trend in annual average concentration of Carbon monoxide (CO) in Delhi is depicted. High levels of CO
might be attributed to increase in vehicular population especially passenger cars in Delhi. Despite an
increase in number of vehicles, CO levels have reduced during last few years. The decrease may be
attributed to measures such as conversion of three wheelers of CNG in Delhi.
Trends in Monthly Average Concentration
Trend in monthly average concentration of SO2 in Delhi and Mumbai is depicted in Figure 14. Trend in
monthly average concentration of NO2 in Delhi and Mumbai is depicted in Figure 15. Trend in monthly
average concentration of RSPM in Delhi and Mumbai is depicted in Figure 16 RSPM levels are
observed to be lower in monsoon months. The monsoons results in large amount of precipitation, high
wind velocities and changes in general wind direction. Thus lower levels are observed in monsoon
months. Levels of all the pollutants are observed to be higher in winter months. During the winter
months, average mixing height is lower as compared to other seasons and atmospheric dispersion is
typically at a minimum and therefore the pollutants will not be as widely dispersed resulting in higher
concentrations.

Trends in Seasonal Average Concentration

Trend in seasonal average concentration of NO2 in Delhi and Mumbai is depicted in Figure 17. Trend in
seasonal average concentration of RSPM in Delhi and Mumbai is depicted .The concentrations are
higher in winter season and are lower during monsoon months. A plausible explanation for these results
may be found by examining meteorological conditions. During the winter season, average mixing height
is lower as compared to other seasons and atmospheric dispersion is typically at a minimum and
therefore the pollutants will not be as widely dispersed. Lower average mixing height in winter season
results in less volume of troposphere available for mixing and hence higher concentrations. Calm
conditions in winter season result in less dispersion of pollutants resulting in building up their levels. The
monsoons results in large amount of precipitation, high wind velocities and changes in general wind
direction. The large amounts of precipitation reduce atmospheric pollution via associated wet deposition
processes. Further wind velocities will allow for pollutant transport away from sources and increase
mixing processes, thereby resulting in lower levels.
Percentage of Cities with Low, Moderate, High and Critical Levels
Trend in percentage of cities (Res. Areas) with low, moderate, high and critical levels of SO2, NO2,
RSPM and SPM is depicted in Figure 19. Percentage of cities with low levels of SO2 have decreased
over the years thus indicating that SO2 pollution have reduced over the years.
National Mean Concentration
National mean concentration with 90th percentile and 10th percentile for SO2, NO2, RSPM and SPM is
depicted in Figure 20. National mean SO2 concentration has decreased over the years indicating that
there has been a decline in SO2 levels. National mean NO2 and RSPM concentration has remained
stable over the years despite increase in sources like vehicles. The reason for this may be various
intervention measures that have taken place such as improvement in vehicle technology and other
vehicular pollution control measures like alternate fuel etc. National mean SPM concentration has been
fluctuating
over
the
years.
REFERENCES
N. Badhwar, R.C.Trivedi, B. Sengupta, 'Air Quality Status and Trends in India', Better Air Quality (BAQ)

Workshop held at Yogyakarta, Indonesia from 13-15th Dec 2006.