Sameer Akbar, The World Bank1 Ten Years of Urban Air Quality Management in India: Findings of a Recent Study Across Five Cities Presented at National Workshop on Urban Air Quality and Integrated Traffic Management Karachi, 13 th – 14 th September 2006

Sameer Akbar, The World Bank2 Air Quality Levels Source: Information collected from national and local government agencies through CAI-Asia network, 2003, detailed sources available from CAI-Asia Secretariat SO2 NO2 SPM PM10 SPM Limit = 90 µg/m 3 (WHO, 1979) PM 10 Limit = 50 µg/m 3 (USEPA, 1997) SO 2 Limit = 50 µg/m 3 (WHO, 1999) NO 2 Limit = 40 µg/m 3 (WHO, 1999)

Sameer Akbar, The World Bank3 Background Very high levels of urban air pollution, especially particulate pollution, in Indian cities in the 1990 ’ s. Independent analyses estimated that it could be responsible for significant health damage. A series of policy interventions followed, in which civil society and judiciary have played a major role (Delhi has set an example) A number of other highly polluted cities to prepare “ action plans ” for addressing urban air pollution.

Sameer Akbar, The World Bank4 Context On-going debate among air quality experts about the exact impacts of specific measures that have already been taken, and by how much the urban air quality has improved as a result.

Sameer Akbar, The World Bank5 Objectives To strengthen, within the limits of the available data and analytical methods, the understanding of factors influencing ambient air quality in different cities so as to assist in the process of formulating future city-level strategies and action plans for addressing urban air pollution.

Sameer Akbar, The World Bank6 City Selection Five major cities — Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, and Hyderabad all with a population of more than 5 million inhabitants in the metropolitan area. These cities, cover a wide range in the levels of PM pollution; cover different geographical locations (north, south, east, and west), diverse climatic conditions, and both coastal and inland cities; have relatively more extensive data available; represent a sample that has had policy interventions; and are also on the list of the cities that have been asked to develop “ action plans ” to address PM pollution.

Sameer Akbar, The World Bank7 PM Averages (2002) NEERI Data

Sameer Akbar, The World Bank8 What efforts have been made to address urban air pollution ?

Sameer Akbar, The World Bank9 Delhi: Chronology of Key Actions : Transport Introduction of Catalytic Converters and Unleaded petrol 1996: Transport & Industry Fuel Quality: 0.5% S diesel introduced CNG vehicles and catalytic converters for government petrol vehicles, excluding public transport introduced (but unsuccessful) Closure of 168 hazardous industries, including stone crushers completed Lower Sulphur content in coal (0.4% S) and oil for industrial use (1.8%) introduced 1997: Industry Relocation of 513 industries 337 hazardous category industries shifted (total of 1160 industries closed or relocated including hot mix plants, arc induction furnaces, brick kilns)

Sameer Akbar, The World Bank : Transport Supply of only premix petrol in all petrol filling stations to two stroke engine vehicles; ban on supply of loose 2T oils Phasing out/ban on old commercial/transport vehicles (>15 yrs) Start of major construction program: flyovers plus the Delhi metro 1999: Transport Registration of only EURO II 3-wheelers and diesel taxis Restricting the plying of goods vehicles during the day Diesel sulphur reduced to 0.25% 2000: Transport, Industry & Urban Diesel and gasoline sulphur reduced to 0.05% in selected outlets Replacement of all pre wheelers and taxis with new vehicles on clean fuels All private 4-wheeled vehicles to conform to Euro II Buses more than 8 Yrs phased out or to ply on CNG The three coal based power plants to switch over to beneficiated coal Piped NG by March 2000 to 1311 domestic, 9 small, and 3 large commercial establishments

Sameer Akbar, The World Bank : Transport, Industry & Urban Replacement of all post wheelers and taxis with new vehicles on clean fuels Sulphur content in diesel further reduced to 0.05% in select outlets Number of CNG vehicles as follows: w; 2200 taxis; 400 buses; 250 RTVs; 9500 private (26350 total) Piped NG by March to 2821 domestic, 15 small, and 5 large commercial establishments Hazardous Industry closure continues: total of 3538 closed 2002: Transport & Urban 94 CNG stations setup up to March All diesel buses phased-out / converted to CNG. Number of CNG vehicles as follows: w; 4816 taxis; 4231 buses; 2165 RTVs; private (57240 total) Piped NG by March to 4111 domestic, 37 small, and 5 large commercial establishments non-destined good vehicles turned away from entering Delhi between July and November

Sameer Akbar, The World Bank12 Kolkata: Chronology of Key Actions 1995: Industry Air polluting industries directed to install air pollution control devices 1996: Transport Fuel Quality: 0.5% S diesel mandated 1997: Industry Siting policy for red category (hazardous) industry was implemented 1998: Transport Low smoke 2T oil for two-stroke engine vehicles mandated 0.25% S diesel mandated in Kolkata Metropolitan Area 1999: Transport Pre-mixed 2T oil for two-wheelers mandated 2000: Transport Diesel sulphur reduced to 0.25% for all of Kolkata 2001: Transport & Industry Low sulphur petrol and diesel (0.05%) mandated The use of cleaner fuels made mandatory in industrial boilers

Sameer Akbar, The World Bank13 Mumbai: Chronology of Key Actions 1996: Transport & Industry Fuel Quality: 0.5% S diesel mandated Textile industries decline started after the strikes of textile workers 1997: Transport & Urban CNG conversion of taxis started Construction of large number of flyovers started 1998: Transport Low smoke 2T oil for two-stroke engine vehicles mandated CNG conversion of taxis on a large scale 1999: Transport Pre-mixed 2T oil for two-wheelers mandated 2000: Transport & Industry Diesel sulphur reduced to 0.25% Conversion of a number of industries to natural gas 2001: Transport & Industry Low sulphur petrol and diesel (0.05%) mandated 2002: Transport Age-based phase out of taxis and 3-wheelers unless converted to LPG/CNG

Sameer Akbar, The World Bank14 Hyderabad: Chronology of Key Actions 1996: Transport Fuel Quality: 0.5% S diesel mandated 1998: Transport Low smoke 2T oil for two-stroke engine vehicles mandated 1999: Transport Pre-mixed 2T oil for two-wheelers mandated 2000: Transport & Urban Diesel sulphur reduced to 0.25% Construction of flyovers started 2001: Transport & Urban Construction of by-pass roads for heavy vehicles started Widening of roads undertaken 2002: Transport Stopping of permit to new autorickshaws

Sameer Akbar, The World Bank15 Chennai: Chronology of Key Actions 1996: Transport Fuel Quality: 0.5% S diesel mandated 1998: Transport Low smoke 2T oil for two-stroke engine vehicles mandated 1999: Transport Pre-mixed 2T oil for two-wheelers mandated 2000: Transport Diesel sulphur reduced to 0.25% 2001: Transport Low sulphur diesel & petrol (0.05%) mandated 2002: Transport & Urban Entry of old buses into the center of the city prohibited, and old buses diverted to new bus terminal in the outskirts

Sameer Akbar, The World Bank16 What were the effects of those efforts on air quality ?

Sameer Akbar, The World Bank17 Annual Average RSPM Concentration

Sameer Akbar, The World Bank18 Delhi: RSPM by Area (Ann. Avgs.)

Sameer Akbar, The World Bank19 What are the health impacts of changes in air quality ?

Sameer Akbar, The World Bank20 Changes in RSPM levels Delhi (ug/m 3 ) Kolkata (ug/m 3 ) Mumbai (ug/m 3 ) Hyderabad (ug/m 3 ) Chennai (ug/m 3 ) Average Average Reduction75 (29%) 66 (34%) 59 (42%) 3 (4%) 10 (14%)

Sameer Akbar, The World Bank21 Health benefits of changes in RSPM CitiesPopulation (mil.) No. of lives saved/yr Economic value (mil. $/yr) Delhi Kolkata Mumbai Hyderabad Chennai TOTAL49.812,

Sameer Akbar, The World Bank22 What are the key factors that affect air quality and need to be considered in strategies and action plans ?

Sameer Akbar, The World Bank23 Relative Contribution of Sources to PM2.5 in 2001 Source: ESMAP 2004

Sameer Akbar, The World Bank24 Relative Contribution of Sources The results indicated that there was no single dominant source in Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai, but rather three principal sources of particulate air pollution: vehicle exhaust, re-suspended road dust, and solid fuels. The use of solid fuels in more pronounced in cities with colder winters.

Sameer Akbar, The World Bank25 Delhi: Role of Meteorological Parameters

Sameer Akbar, The World Bank26 Chennai: Role of Meteorological Parameters

Sameer Akbar, The World Bank27 6. What do the findings of this study tell ?

Sameer Akbar, The World Bank28 Concluding Remarks RSPM, the main pollutant of public health concern, fell between 1993 and Clearly, the interventions undertaken had some effect ! This decline in RSPM levels might have led to nearly 13,000 fewer cases of premature deaths and much greater reductions in the number of cases of respiratory illness annually in the five cities by 2002, than in the early 1990s. Despite substantial past progress the levels of RSPM are the highest and dangerously above the national standards in the northern cities of Delhi and Kolkata, especially in winter. Given that there is no established threshold for health impacts from exposure to RSPM, all cities will gain substantial health benefits from further reductions. Reductions in RSPM concentrations have been achieved through a combination of measures targeting industry, transport, and better urban planning / development. This is an important lesson for developing “ action plans ”.

Sameer Akbar, The World Bank29 Sector-wise summary of key actions across the cities InterventionIndustryUrbanTransport Clean fuels Switching to cleaner fuels (reduction in sulphur, gaseous alternatives) Increasing share of domestic and commercial users of cleaner fuels (gas and kerosene for cooking, electricity for heating) Use of cleaner fuels (gasoline lead elimination, sulfur reduction in liquid fuels, use of gaseous fuels) Better lubricant quality and only pre-mixed 2T oil for two- and three- wheelers Improved technology More efficient and cleaner combustion technology Better road infrastructure (road widening, traffic management, new flyovers) Scrappage of old commercial vehicles and their replacement with a new fleet Stronger and better enforced regulation Tightened and better enforced emissions norms leading to installation of pollution control devices Enforcement of land-use zoning regulations (closure and relocation of industry from non- conforming areas, development of green belts/areas) Introduction and enforcement of new and more stringent emission norms for new and in- use vehicles

Sameer Akbar, The World Bank30 Thank You All! The full report entitled For a Breath of Fresh Air: Ten Years of Progress and Challenges in Urban Air Quality Management in India can be accessed at