Lok Sabha Question No. 1850 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-29
Subject: Effects of Air Pollution
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Veena Devi, Chandeshwar Prasad, Gopal Chinayya Shetty

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

## LOKSABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1850

TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.11.2019

## Effects of Air Pollution

1850.  SHRIMATI VEENA DEVI: SHRI CHANDESHWARPRASAD: SHRI GOPALCHINNAYASHETTY:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  a  large  number  of  people  living  in  metro politan  cities  are  suffering  from  various  diseases  due  to  air  pollution  and  ifso,  the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Central Pollution Control Board has assessed the quality of air pollution in  major  cities  of  the  countryand  suggested  reformative  measures  totackle  such situation and if so, the detailsthereof;
- (c) whether the  National  Green  Tribunal  (NGT)  on  the  eve  of  the  World  Environment Day  has  observed  that  no  State  in  the  country  is  complying  with  therules  and regulations of waste managementand if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government is alsoaware of the observation of NGT that six lakh people die every year in the countrydue to diseases caused by air pollution likeAsthma and Cancer;
- (e) if so, the details thereof indicatingthe total number of people who lost their lives due to air pollution during the lastthree years and the current  year, State/UT wise along with the reaction of theGovernment thereto; and
- (f) the other corrective measures takenby the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)

- (a) The Government is aware of many studies published from time to time reporting modelbased estimates of morbidity attributable to air pollution in India, including the people living in the metropolitan cities.These estimates are based on models, simulations and extrapolations. Air pollution is one of the factors affecting respiratory ailments and associated diseases. However, there are no conclusive data available in the country to establish direct correlation  of  death/  disease  exclusively  due  to  pollution.  Health  effects  of  pollution  are synergistic  manifestation  of  factors  which  include  food  habits,  occupational  habits,  socioeconomic status, medical history, immunity, heredity, etc., of the individuals.
- (b) The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has identified 102 non-attainment cities, based  on  ambient  air  quality  data  for  the  period  2011  -  2015and  WHO  report  2014/2018.

City specific action plans have been prepared for these cities for implementation under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).Out of these 102 non-attainment cities, 28 priority citieswith  million  plus  population  and  PM10>90µg/m³  have  been  identified  for  funding  of ₹10 Crores in the current year under NCAPfor various components, that inter  alia include installation and commissioning of Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS), creating green buffer zone along the roads, mechanical street sweeper, Mobile Enforcement Unit, public awareness and capacity building activities, water sprinkler, etc.For  the  remaining  non-attainment  cities,  funding  of  ₹10  lakhs  per  city  for  cities  with population less than 5 lakhs and ₹ 20 lakhs per city, for cities with a population of 5 to10 lakhs have been sanctioned.

(c)  to  (e)  The  Government  is  aware  of  the  statement  made  by  persons  and  also  articles published  in  various  media  referring  to  the  model  based  estimates  of  mortality/  morbidity attributed  to  air  pollution.  However,  as  stated  above,  these  estimatesare  based  on  models, simulations and extrapolations and there are no conclusive data available in the country to establish  direct  correlation  of  death/  disease  exclusively  due  to  air  pollution.  The  Central Government has notified six waste management rules covering solid waste, plastic waste, ewaste, bio-medical waste, Construction and Demolition(C&D) waste and hazardous wastes issued in 2016 for the better management of wastes.

(f)The  other  corrective  measures  taken  by  the  Government  for  prevention,  control  and abatement of air pollution include:

## Plans and Directions

-  Comprehensive Action Plan (CAP) identifying timelines and implementing agency for actions  identified  for  prevention,  control  and  mitigation  of  air  pollution  in  Delhi  and NCR has been notified.
-  National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) under the Central Sector 'Control of Pollution' Scheme as a time bound national level strategy to tackle air pollution problem across the country in comprehensive manner has been launched.
-  Graded Response Action Plan for different levels of air pollution in Delhi and NCR has been notified.
-  A comprehensive  set  of  directions  have  been  issued  under  section  18  (1)  (b)  of  Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1986 for implementation of 42/31 measures to mitigate air pollution in major cities including Delhi and NCR cities comprising of 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.

## Monitoring

-  Setting up of monitoring network for assessment of ambient air quality.
-  Notification of National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
-  Launch of National Air Quality Index.
-  Implementation  of  Air  Quality  Early  Warning  System  for  Delhi  in  October,  2018  in association with Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).

## Transport

-  Leapfrogging  from  BS-IV  to  BS-VI  fuel  standards  since  1st  April,  2018  in  NCT  of Delhi and from by 1st April, 2020 in the rest of the country.
-  Introduction  of  cleaner  /  alternate  fuels  like  gaseous  fuel  (CNG,  LPG  etc.),  ethanol blending.
-  Operationalisation of Eastern Peripheral Expressway & Western Peripheral Expressway to divert non-destined traffic from Delhi.
-  Streamlining the issuance of Pollution Under Control Certificate.

## Industry

-  Badarpur thermal power plant has been closed from 15th October, 2018.
-  All Operational brick kilns have been shifted to zig-zag technology in Delhi and NCR.
-  Installation of on-line continuous (24x7) monitoring devices all red category industries in Delhi and NCR.
-  Revision of emission standards for industrial sectors from time to time.

## Biomass and Solid Waste

-  A new Central Sector Scheme on 'Promotion of Agricultural Mechanization for in-situ management of Crop Residue in the States of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi' for the period from 2018-19 and 2019-20 has been launched.
-  Banning of burning of biomass.
-  3 Waste-to-Energy (W-t-E) plants are currently operational in Delhi.
-  Notifications of 6 waste management rules covering solid waste, plastic waste, e-waste, bio-medical waste, C&D waste and hazardous wastes issued in 2016.

## Dust

-  Notifications  regarding  dust  mitigation  measures  for  construction  and  demolition activities.
-  Advisory issued to implementing agencies and State Boards in Delhi NCR regarding use of dust suppressant.

## Public Outreach

-  Ministry is promoting peoples participation and awareness building among citizens for environmental  conservation  through  Green  Good  Deeds  that  focus  on  promotion  of cycling,  saving  water  and  electricity,  growing  trees,  proper  maintenance  of  vehicles, following of lane discipline and reducing congestion on roads by car pooling etc.
-  Development of mechanism for redressal of public complaints regarding air pollution issues in Delhi and NCR (through 'Sameer App', 'Emails'(aircomplaints.cpcb@gov.in) and 'Social Media Networks' (Facebook and Twitter)  etc.

*****