Lok Sabha Question No. 1337 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-09
Subject: Deaths Due to Air Pollution
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: ANUPAM HAZRA, M. B. RAJESH, P. KUMAR, A.P. JITHENDER REDDY, LALLU SINGH, HARI MANJHI, ANTO  ANTONY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1337

TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2018

## Deaths Due to Air Pollution

## 1337.   DR. ANUPAM HAZRA:

SHRI M.B. RAJESH:

SHRI P. KUMAR:

SHRI A.P. JITHENDER REDDY:

SHRI LALLU SINGH:

SHRI HARI MANJHI:

SHRI ANTO ANTONY:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether as per  a premier  international  agency  and  medical  journal,  deaths  due  to  air pollution  and  from  Chronic  obstructive  pulmonary  disease  in  various  cities  including metropolitan cities are highest in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether increase in air pollution due to emissions from  factories  and cutting of trees poses a serious threat to human life and if so, the details thereof along with the total number of people died due to air pollution in various cities during the last three years, State/UT-wise;
- (c) whether the Central Pollution Control Board has assessed the quality of air pollution in metropolitan cities and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the details of projects undertaken by his Ministry to reduce air pollution in New Delhi and other affected State Capitals during the last three years along with its achievements thereof; and
- (e) the steps taken by the Government to combat the rise in air pollution and mitigate the health hazards arising out of pollution in various States?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a) &(b) An  article  titled  'Nations  within  a  nation:  variations  in  epidemiological transition across the states of India, 1990-2016 in the Global Burden of Disease Study' was published in the Lancet journal in December, 2017. The article reported that five leading risk factors  for  Disability-Adjusted  Life  Years  (DALYs)  in  2016  are  child  and  maternal malnutrition, air pollution, dietary risks, high systolic blood pressure, and high fasting plasma glucose.  The  article  also  states  that  though  the  levels  of  exposure  in  India  is  among  the highest in the world, the DALY due to air pollution decreased by 23·6% in India from 1990 to 2016.

There  are  no  conclusive  data  available  in  the  country  to  establish  direct correlation of death/disease exclusively due to air pollution.  However, air pollution could be one of the triggering factors for respiratory ailments and associated diseases.  Health effects of air pollution are synergistic manifestation of factors which include food habits, occupational habits, socio-economic status, medical history, immunity, heredity, etc., of the individuals.

(c) Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is monitoring ambient air quality in 691  locations  covering  303  cities/towns  in  29  States  and  6  Union  Territories  across  the country  under  National  Air  Quality  Monitoring  Programme  (NAMP).  As  per  the data,  the number  of  cities,  where  monitored  values  are  exceeding  National  Ambient  Air  Quality Standards (NAAQS) during 2016, is 21 for NO2, 195 for PM10 and 31 for PM2.5.

(d) & (e) The Government has taken several steps to address air pollution which inter alia, include notification of National Ambient  Air  Quality  Standards;  setting  up of monitoring network for assessment of ambient air quality; introduction of cleaner / alternate fuels like gaseous fuel (CNG, LPG etc.), ethanol blending, launching of National Air Quality index; universalization of BS-IV by 2017; leapfrogging from BS-IV to BS-VI fuel standards by 1st April, 2020; notification of Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules; banning  of  burning  of  biomass;  promotion  of  public  transport  network;  streamlining  the issuance of Pollution Under Control Certificate; issuance of directions under Section 18(1)(b) of Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and under Section 5 of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986; installation of on-line continuous (24x7) monitoring devices by major industries;  notification  of  Graded  Response  Action  Plan  for  Delhi  and  NCR,collection  of Environmental Protection Charge on more than 2000 CC diesel vehicles, etc.  .

In  addition,  the  government  has  formulated  National  Clean  Air  Programme (NCAP)  as  a  long  term  time  bound  national  level  strategy  to  tackle  the  increasing  air pollution problem across the country in comprehensive manner. The overall objective is to augment  and  evolve  effective  ambient  air  quality  monitoring  network  across  the  country besides ensuring comprehensive management plan for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution. The NCAP focuses on collaborative and participatory approach comprising all sources of pollution and coordination between relevant Central Ministries, State Governments, local bodies and other stakeholders.

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