Lok Sabha Question No. 3965 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-09
Subject: Chemical Pneumonitis
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: DINESH TRIVEDI

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUEST ION NO. 3965 TO BE ANSWERED ON 9 TH DECEMBER, 2016

## CHEMICAL PNEUMONITIS

## 3965. SHRI DINESH TRIVEDI:

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

- (a) whether a number of cases of chemical pneumonitis also known as chemical pneumonia ha been reported;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the number of cases reported;
- ( c) whether any study suggests its correlation with the extensive use of fire crackers leadin hazardous level of air pollution and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether any study has been conducted on its long term health effects and if so, th thereof; and
- (e) the necessary steps taken and funds allocated for the same, State/UT -wise?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE ( ANUPRIYA PATEL )

- (a) & (b) : As informed by Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, All India Institute of Medical Sciences and Indian Council of Medical Research details regarding number of cases of chemical pneumonitis are not available.
- (c) & (d) : Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health & Fa mily Welfare have informed  that  studies  on  air  pollution  and  increase  in  respiratory  tract  infection  h undertaken, however, no specific study on pollution due to fire crackers is available.

As informed by Ministry of Environment, Forests and Clima te hange and Central Pollution Control Board, no study has been conducted to assess impact of air pollution on health.

Contd…….

(e) : The  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  control  air  pollution inter  alia include Formulation  of  environmental regulations/statutes;  Setting  up  of  monitoring  network  for assessment of ambient air quality; Introduction of cleaner/alternate fuels like gaseous f LPG  etc.),  ethanol  blend  etc.;  Promotion  of  cleaner  production  processes;  Implementati Bharat Stage IV (BS -IV) norms in 63 selected cities and universalization of BS -IV by 2017; Taxing  polluting  vehicles  and  incentivizing  hybrid  and  electric  vehicles;  Comprehen amendments  to  various  Waste  Management  Rules  including  Municipal  Solid  Waste,  Plas tic Waste, Hazardous Waste, Bio - medical Waste and Electronic Waste and notified; Notification of Construction  and  Demolition  Waste  Management  Rules;  Ban  on  burning  of  leaves,  biomass, municipal solid waste; Promotion of public transport network of metro, b uses,  - rickshaws and promotion  of  carpooling,  Pollution  Under  Control,  lane  discipline,  vehicle  mainten Revision of existing environmental standards and formulation of new standards for preve and control of pollution from industries; Issuance of directions under Section 18(1)(b) of Air (Prevention  and  Control  of  Pollution)  Act,  1981  to  NCR  States  (Haryana,  Uttar  Prad Rajasthan  and  NCT  of  Delhi)  for  control  of  air  pollution  in  NCR  and  NCT  of  Delhi  whi 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 bio - mass burning; industrial air  pollution;  air  pollution  from  construction  and  demolition  activities;  etc.;  Is direction s under Section 5 of Environment (Protection) Act,1986 to 22 Local bodies of NC regarding  control  of  burning  of  garbage,  checking  dust  from  construction  and  demoli activities  and  related  issues;  Installation  of  on - line  c ntinuous  (24x7)  monitoring  dev ices  by major industries; Revision of emission standards including thermal power plants, cement p etc.; Ban on stubble burning in NCR States; Collection of Environmental Protection Charg more than 2000 CC diesel vehicles at the time of registrati on as per the directions of Hon'ble Supreme  Court;  Phasing  out  of  15  year  old  diesel  vehicles  in  Delhi;  Ban  on  import  of crackers from any country under Section 31 (A) of Air Prevention and Control of Pollutio 1981 vide DPCC order dated 30.09.20 16.

Details regarding funds allocated for the same State/UT - wise are not available.

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