Integration of Higher Learning Institutions in

Planning, Implementation and Monitoring of Air

Pollution Management Plan: The Systems Approach

Sachchida (Sachi) N. Tripathi

Department of Civil Engineering
and Centre for Environmental Science and Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
World Environment Day
June 5, 2019
New Delhi
 Contents
• National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)
• Academic Network for NCAP
• Objectives of the Network
• Structure of the Knowledge Network
• Distribution of Knowledge Network across India
• State-wide Network in Uttar Pradesh
• State Pollution Control Boards
• Air Quality Monitoring and Pollution Control Technologies
• Importance of partnering with Technical Institutions
• Examples of similar successful collaboration in USA
2
Air Pollution, World Environment Day, June 5, New Delhi
 National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)
• The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has launched
National Clean Air Program, NCAP, in January this year, with an aim to
address air pollution in a comprehensive and time bound manner
• The focus is collaborative and participatory approach involving relevant Central
Ministries, State Governments, local bodies and other Stakeholders to reduce
air pollution in the next five years.
• 102 non-attainment cities in 23 states have been identified for NCAP.

• The goal is to achieve 20-30% reduction in air pollution in the next five years.
Air Pollution, World Environment Day, June 5, New Delhi 3
 Academic Network for NCAP
Institutions of higher learning with strong research expertise in air quality,
civil/mechanical engineering, environmental sciences, public health were identified as
knowledge partners for State Pollution Control Boards.
Nodal Agency

Partnering Technical Institutes

4
Air Pollution, World Environment Day, June 5, New Delhi
 Objectives of the Network
• The partnering technical institutions will provide regular inputs to SPCBs and will
help with monitoring, source identification and prioritization of source mitigation, in
addition to capacity building.
• SPCBs will play a major role in effective implementation of NCAP.

• The technical institute will enter into a tripartite with the SPCB and MoEF&CC to
work together to combat air pollution in the respective cities.
• This will lessen the gap between science, technology and policy.

Air Pollution, World Environment Day, June 5, New Delhi 5

 Structure of the Knowledge Network

Air Pollution, World Environment Day, June 5, New Delhi 6

 Distribution of Knowledge Network across India

• The most polluted area

in India, the Indo-
Gangetic Plain (IGP) is
totally covered.

• The eastern region is

quite well covered.

• The western part is

covered to a good
degree.

7
Air Pollution, World Environment Day, June 5, New Delhi
 State-wide Network in Uttar Pradesh
Technical institutions spread within
other states can also be leveraged
to contribute to NCAP efforts.

8
Air Pollution, World Environment Day, June 5, New Delhi
 State Pollution Control Boards
State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) are statutory organizations entrusted to implement Environmental
Laws and rules within the jurisdiction of the State. The SPCBs are entrusted with powers and functions for
air pollution under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. The following are the major
functions being carried out by the SPCBs in exercise of the duties conferred on it under the Air Act, 1981:

• Issue of No Objection Certificates from the environmental pollution point of view including adequacy of
the site from the environmental angle.
• Issue of Consent under provisions of section-21 of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act,
1981.
• Identification and assessment of industrial and municipal pollution sources and control thereof.
• Assessment of ambient air quality.
• Mass awareness programmes.
• Notification of effluent and emission standards.
• Development of Pollution Control technologies. 9
Air Pollution, World Environment Day, June 5, New Delhi
Sample Agreement of State Knowledge Network

10
Air Pollution, World Environment Day, June 5, New Delhi
 Air Quality Monitoring and Pollution Control Technologies

The strategy to achieve an adequate understanding leading to improvement of air quality in India, will
involve simultaneous monitoring and control approach.

Assessment of Air Quality:

 Monitoring of air quality gives us an accurate picture of air quality status

 Monitoring also helps to evaluate and quantify any policy intervention.

 It helps to identify hotspots where control measures would be most effective.

Development of Pollution Control Technologies

 Development of low-cost sensor network.

 Development of equipment to understand sources of pollution, like advanced mass spectrometers.

 Development of Technologies focusing on sources of air pollution in each state.

Air Pollution, World Environment Day, June 5, New Delhi 11
 Importance of Partnership
The contributions that can be made by the Technical Institutions are listed below:

1. Capacity building
• Regular coursework, dedicated schools, workshops, online material and short-term courses

• Exchange of good practices between various technical institutes and boards

• Technical Institutes can provide hands on help with data analysis for effective decision making

• Technical Institutes can give inputs and help to evaluate source apportionment related proposals

2. Design of network (type and locations)

• Establish a more effective network for monitoring with a combination of high and low cost sensors

• Technical Institutions can help in data streaming and analysis

Air Pollution, World Environment Day, June 5, New Delhi 12
 Importance of Partnership (contd.)
3. Instruments calibration and validation
• Currently, most reference instruments are imported and so, foreign exchange adds to total cost for
continuous validation and calibration of instruments.
• Technical Institutes can help with instrument calibration and validation, saving money and time.
• Design, develop and fabricate sophisticated instruments to be self-sufficient in the long run

4. Source Monitoring
• IoT based monitoring sensors for industries can be deployed with the help of Technical Institutions.
• Design and development of mobile monitoring units for vehicular emission monitoring.

5. Helping Boards with recruitments

• The technical institutions can help with conducting exams and interviews. The working relationship
with the technical institutes can be leveraged to recruit more NIT graduates and IIT PG students.
13
Air Pollution, World Environment Day, June 5, New Delhi
 Importance of Partnership (contd.)
6. Creating new research program
• Monitoring: For better monitoring of air quality, we need to initiate and nurture novel research to
make existing units more cost-effective and accurate.
• Control: Research is needed to develop novel ideas for control of co-emitted pollutants.
• Real-time Source Apportionment: This is important to achieve a detailed understanding of
seasonal sources, aging, and formation pathways of pollutants to better combat air pollution.
7. New data dissemination system
• With help Computer Science and Internet of Things (IoT), citizen centric data dissemination (sms,
web, WhatsApp, social media) can be created to make citizens aware of pollution related issues
and pollution in their area.
8. Helping develop air shed and modelling capacities
• In future, people will need prediction at neighbourhood level (not city) in order to safeguard
themselves and their children
• Current prediction tools at appropriate scales are not available with State Pollution Control Boards.
The partnership will help with the selection of models and creation of an exhaustive inventory to
create a modelling system that can be used for regular forecast. 14
Air Pollution, World Environment Day, June 5, New Delhi
 Exchange visits
Once collaboration is on track
• M.Tech students visit to SPCB stations to help them in monitoring and other
activities.
• Ph.D student visit to help with implementation of new protocols and
technologies.
• Explore possibility of joint supervision
• Visit of PCB scientist (1 week to few months to IITs) to get exposure and
first hand experience of high end instrumentation/modeling/development

Air Pollution, World Environment Day, June 5, New Delhi 15

Collaboration between US Environment Protection Agency
and Educational Institutes in USA
• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded Georgia Technology Research Corporation,
$14,995 and Kennesaw State University, $14,977 through the People, Prosperity, and Planet (P3)
grants program in 2018. The team is working on reducing energy consumption, improving user
experience, and improving the accuracy of readings.

• In 2016, the Georgia Institute of Technology and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
entered into a partnership to enhance environmental policy work and offer internship opportunities for
Georgia Tech students interested in environmental careers. The Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) formalized a long-standing collaboration.

• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded a five-year grant of $8 million, in 2011, to
the Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University to create one of four National
Clean Air Research Centers addressing the public health impacts of air pollution.
16
Air Pollution, World Environment Day, June 5, New Delhi
THANK YOU!

Air Pollution, World Environment Day, June 5, New Delhi 17