Lok Sabha Question No. 4061 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-09
Subject: Impact of Air Pollution on GDP
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: SANJAY JAISWAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH RESEARCH

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4061 TO BE ANSWERED ON 9 TH DECEMBER, 2016

## IMPACT OF AIR POLLUT ION ON GDP

## 4061. DR. SANJAY JAISWAL:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether air pollution impacts GDP of the country and if so, the details thereof;

- (b) whether the Government has conducted any study to measure the impact of air pollution on health and associated economic cost in India; and

- (c) the steps taken to control air pollution in different parts of the country?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

(SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)

- (a) : As per World Bank Disaster Management and Climate Change Unit Report, 'India - Diagnostic  Assessment  of  Select  Environmental  Challenges',  the  cost  of  serious  health consequences from Particulate Matter pollution is estimated to be around 3 per cent of ia's GDP and the total damage because of environmental degradation amounts to Rs. 3.75 tril equivalent to 5.7 percent of the country's GDP.

(Source: Central Pollution Control Board)

- (b) : As informed by Indian Council of Medical Research and Central Pollution Control Board, no such study has been conducted so far.

- (c) : The steps being taken by the Government to control air pollution inter alia include the following: -

- (i) Formulation of en vironmental regulations / statutes;

- (ii) Setting up of monitoring network for assessment of ambient air quality;

- (iii) Introduction of cleaner / alternate fuels like gaseous fuel (CNG, LPG etc.), e blend etc.;

- (iv) Promotion of cleaner production processes;

- (v) Implementation  of  Bharat  Stage  IV  (BS -IV)  norms  in  63  selected  cities  and universalization of BS -IV by 2017;

Contd…….

- (vi) Taxing polluting vehicles and incentivizing hybrid and electric vehicles;
- (vii) Comprehensive amendments to various Waste Management R ules including Municipal  Solid  Waste,  Plastic  Waste,  Hazardous  Waste,  Bio - medical  Waste  and Electronic Waste and notified;
- (viii) Notification of Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules;
- (ix) Ban on burning of leaves, biomass, municipal solid waste;
- (x) Promoti on of public transport network of metro, buses, e -rickshaws and promotion of carpooling, Pollution Under Control, lane discipline, vehicle maintenance;
- (xi) Revision of existing environmental standards and formulation of new standards prevention and control of pollution from industries;
- (xii) Issuance  of  directions  under  Section  18(1)(b)  of  Air  (Prevention  and  Control Pollution) Act, 1981 to NCR States (Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and NCT o Delhi)  for  control  of  air  pollution  in  NCR  and  NCT  of  Delhi.    Th es   directions covered a series of 42 time - bound action points viz. control of vehicular emissions; road dust/re - suspension of dust and other fugitive emissions; air pollution from -mass burning; industrial air pollution; air pollution from construction and demolition activities; etc.;
- (xiii) Issuance of directions under Section 5 of Environment (Protection) Act,1986 to Local bodies of NCR regarding control of burning of garbage, checking dust fr construction and demolition activities and related issues;
- (xiv) Installation of on - line continuous (24x7) monitoring devices by major industries;
- (xv) Revision of emission standards including thermal power plants, cement plants, etc
- (xvi) Ban on stubble burning in NCR States;
- (xvii) Collection of Environmental Protection Charge on mor e than 2000 CC diesel vehicles at the time of registration as per the directions of Hon'ble Supreme Court;
- (xviii) Phasing out of 15 year old diesel vehicles in Delhi;
- (xix) Ban  on  import  of  fire  crackers  from  any  country  under  Section  31  (A)  of  A Prevention and Contr ol of Pollution Act, 1981 vide DPCC order dated 30.09.2016.