Central Pollution Control Board

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We can survive without food for several weeks. We can also make do without water for a few days. But, we cannot live without breathing air even for a few moments. The air we breathe directly gets into our blood stream. Hence, it is necessary for us to ensure that the air quality is not polluted beyond the threshhold limits.

The human activities whether for cooking, space heating, transportation or for industrial production use fuels of various kinds. Burning of fuels leads to a plethora of combustion products, which contribute towards air pollution. Besides manmade pollutants, air pollution such as in arid and semi-arid areas which are having high levels of suspended particulate matter (SPM) can also be caused by natural conditions.

Air pollutants whether manmade or natural are to be monitored to ascertain their characteristics and concentration in the ambient air. Monitoring helps us to take necessary preventive and control measures. With this in view, the Central Pollution Control Board and State Pollution Control Boards have set up a network of air quality monitoring stations. The Central Pollution Control Board collates the air quality data and brings out the annual air quality statistics. Based on such data, it has been possible to identify the polluted areas and also prepare action plans. I may mention here about the Action Plan, which has been prepared for the Capital City of Delhi. Because of initiatives taken for controlling the air pollution from different sources, particularly automobiles, the increasing trend of air pollution in the city has been arrested. We have been able to phase out lead from petrol throughout the country. It has been possible within a span of 5 years, which is by no means a mean achievement. The results of initiatives taken for improvement of fuel quality, tightening of emission norms for vehicles and emissions from industrial sources are being felt through findings of air quality monitoring.

We are already confronted with the environmental and health problems on account of poor shelter and lack of safe water, sanitation and drainage. The problems are further aggravated by harmful emissions caused by motor vehicles, industries and domestic combustion of biomass and fossil fuels.

I am grateful to my colleagues Dr. B. Sengupta, Dr. S. Philip and Shri K. Umakanth for collecting and collating relevant information relating to air pollution and health effects.

We hope, it will be useful to all concerned with protection and improvement of air quality.

(Dilip Biswas)
Chairman, CPCB