Lok Sabha Question No. 2467 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-09
Subject: Minamata Convention on Mercury
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: BALKA SUMAN, C. MAHENDRAN

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2467

TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.03.2018

## Minamata Convention on Mercury

## 2467.  SHRI  SUMAN BALKA: SHRI  C. MAHENDRAN:

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

- (a) whether  the Government  has  approved  proposal  for ratification  of  Minamata Convention  on  Mercury  and  depositing  instrument  of  ratification  enabling  India  to become Party of Convention and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  this  is  to  protect  human  health  and  environment  from  anthropogenic emissions  and  releases  of  mercury  and  mercury  compounds  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  launched  Green  Good  Deeds  campaign  to  sensitize people and students, in particular about climate change and global warming and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the campaign aims to broad its base with involvement of teachers, students and other voluntary organizations to combat climate change; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b) Yes, Sir. The  Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  for  :-  (i)  Ratification  of  the  Minamata Convention on Mercury and depositing the instrument of ratification with the designated authority enabling Republic of India to become a Party to the Convention; (ii) Seeking exemption as provided under Article 6 of the Convention for a period of five years after expiry of phase-out dates for the processes/products as specified in Annex A & B of the Convention; and (iii) To retain the flexibility  for acceptance of any amendment to the Convention text and its annexes. The Minamata Convention is a global treaty to protect human health and environment from adverse effects of mercury and its compounds.
- (c) to (e) Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  has  initiated  Green Good Deeds (GGDs) campaign in order to sensitize and make the citizens aware about environmental issues. The GGDs cover all the aspects of environment conservation viz. biodiversity, wildlife, water pollution, air pollution, noise pollution, renewable energy, conservation of lakes and rivers, solid waste management including climate change and global warming etc. The Ministry has also shared the relevant GGDs with all State Nodal Agencies for implementation of Eco-club programme of Ministry, located in each of the States/Union Territories with a request to get the GGDs implemented in nearly 90,000 Eco-clubs, which implements various environmental awareness programmes for school children, college students, and teachers. The Ministry had also organized Clean Air for Delhi  Campaign  from  February  10-23,  2018  wherein  GGDs  were  publicized  through radio, video and print media.

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