Lok Sabha Question No. 21 (STARRED), answered on 2017-07-18
Subject: Environmental Pollution
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: RADHESHYAM BISWAS

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

## LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION N0. 21

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2017

## Environmental Pollution

## *21. SHRI RADHESHYAM BISWAS:

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

- (a)   whether increasing number of vehicles causing environmental pollution is a major concern in urban areas of the country including Assam;
- (b)   if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  made  any  assessment  regarding  the  adverse  impact  of increasing number of vehicles in the country;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)   the steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER FOR  ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

- (a)  to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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Statement  referred  to  in  reply  to  Lok  Sabha  Starred  Question  No.  21  due  for  reply  on 18.07.2017  regarding  'Environmental  Pollution'  by  Shri  Radheshyam  Biswas,  Hon'ble Member of Parliament

(a) to (d) Number of sources like vehicles, industries, dust resuspension, gensets, waste burning, construction  activities,  etc.  contribute  towards  air  pollution  in  urban  areas  including  Assam. Increase in number of vehicles may contribute to rise in air pollution levels in the urban areas. However, with improvement in fuel quality and engine efficiency it is feasible to mitigate the problem of air pollution from vehicles significantly. The Bharat Stage (BS) standards were first introduced in 2000 towards addressing fuel quality and engine efficiency. Progressively stringent norms have been rolled out since then. All new vehicles manufactured after the implementation of the norms have to be compliant with the regulations. Since October 2010, Bharat Stage (BS) III norms have been enforced across the country. In 13 major cities, Bharat Stage IV emission norms have been in place since April 2010and it's enforced for whole country from 1 st April 2017 for  two  wheelers,  three  wheelers  and  four  wheelers.  There  is  no  available  study  with  specific reference to adverse impact of increasing number of vehicles on air pollution in the country.

(e)  Government  has  taken  several  steps  to  check  environmental  pollution  which, inter  alia , include  notification  of  National  Ambient  Air  Quality  Standards;  setting  up  of  monitoring network  for  assessment  of  ambient  air  quality;  launching  of  National  Air  Quality  index; introduction of cleaner / alternate fuels; universalization of BS-IV by 2017; leapfrogging from BS-IV to BS-VI fuel standards by 1st April, 2020; promotion of public transport and network of metro, e-rickshaws,  promotion  of  car  pooling, Pollution Under  Control  Certificate,  lane discipline, vehicle maintenance, notification of Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules;  banning  of  burning  of  biomass;  issuance  of  directions  under  Section  18(1)(b)  of  Air (Prevention  and  Control  of  Pollution)  Act,  1981  comprising  of  action  points  to  counter  air pollution in  major  cities including  control and  mitigation  measures  related  to  vehicular emissions,  re-suspension  of  road  dust  and  other  fugitive  emissions,  bio-mass/municipal  solid waste  burning,  industrial  pollution,    construction  and  demolition  activities,  and  other  general steps; installation of  on-line  continuous  (24x7)  monitoring  devices  by major  industries; collection  of  Environmental  Protection  Charge  on  more  than  2000  CC  diesel  vehicles;  and notification of graded response action plan for Delhi and NCR etc.

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