Lok Sabha Question No. 106 (STARRED), answered on 2017-12-22
Subject: Environmental Pollution
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: NINONG ERING, SANJAY JAISWAL

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 106

TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.12.2017

## Environmental Pollution

## *106.   SHRI NINONG ERING: DR. SANJAY JAISWAL:

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

- (a) whether Indians are worst affected by environmental pollution in the world as per a study released in the Lancet medical journal recently and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Union Government has since ascertained the number of people died/ suffered major ailments due to air pollution/ water pollution during the last three years  and the current year and if so, the details thereof, year and State/UT-wise;
- (c) whether  the  steps  taken  by  the  Union  Government/Central  Pollution  Control  Board (CPCB)  and  State  Governments/State  Pollution  Control  Boards  to  check  the  adverse impact  of  pollution  on  people  have  proved  to  be  ineffective  and  if  so,  the  reasons therefor;
- (d) whether  the  Union  Government  has  initiated  any dialogue with  the  departments concerned of various States/UTs to make various cities including Delhi and Bengaluru pollution free and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the  new  strategies  proposed  to  be  adopted  by  the  Union  Government/CPCB  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. 106 due for reply on 22.12.2017  regarding  'Environmental  Pollution'  by  SHRI  NINONG  ERING  and  DR. SANJAY JAISWAL, Hon'ble Members of Lok Sabha

(a) to (e) 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 DALY due to air pollution decreased by 23·6% in India from 1990 to 2016.

There are no conclusive data available in the country to establish direct correlation of death/disease  exclusively  due  to  air  pollution.    However,  air  pollution  could  be  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, socio-economic status, medical history, immunity, heredity, etc., of the individuals.

Government has formulated National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) as a long term time  bound  national  level  strategy  to  tackle  increasing  air  pollution  across  the  country  in comprehensive manner. The overall objective is to augment and evolve effective ambient air quality monitoring network across the country besides ensuring comprehensive management plan for prevention, control and  abatement  of air  pollution.  The  NCAP  focuses  on collaborative and participatory approach comprising all sources of pollution and coordination between relevant Central Ministries, State Governments, local bodies and other stakeholders. Government has further taken several steps to address air pollution which inter alia, include notification  of    Graded  Response  Action  Plan  for  different  levels  of  air  pollution  in  NCR; 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; universalization of  BS-IV  by  2017;  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; notification of about 115 emission/effluent norms for 104 different sectors besides 32 General Standards and special measures for critically polluted areas, etc.

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