Lok Sabha Question No. 2893 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-08-03
Subject: Impact of Pollution
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: BHOLA SINGH, PREM SINGH CHANDUMAJRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2893

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.08.2018

## Impact of Pollution

## 2893.   SHRI BHOLA SINGH:

## PROF. PREM SINGH CHANDUMAJRA:

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

- (a) whether the Government has taken note of a recent Lancet countdown report 2017 on health impact of pollution in the country;
- (b) if so, the details and the major findings of the report;
- (c) the reaction of the Government thereto; and
- (d) the corrective steps taken in this regard?

## 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 DALYs due to air pollution decreased by 23·6% in India from 1990 to 2016.

(c) There are no conclusive data available in the country to establish direct correlation of death/disease exclusively due to air pollution.  However, air pollution is 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,  socioeconomic status, medical history, immunity, heredity, etc., of the individuals.

(d  ) 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; 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, formulation of National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), etc.

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