Lok Sabha Question No. 2665 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-06
Subject: Death of Children due to Air Pollution
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2665

TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.03.2020

## Death of Children due to Air Pollution

## 2665.  SHRI LAVU SRI KRISHNA DEVARAYALU:

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

- (a) whether  as  per  the  World  Health  Organization  Report  'Air  Pollution  and  Child Health-Prescribing Clean Air', India's toxic air killed more than one lakh children in 2016;
- (b) if so, the details of the report and the response of the Government thereto; and
- (c) the corrective measures taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b) Many  studies  by  different  Organizations  have  been  published  from  time  to time, estimating mortality, morbidity, life expectancy, etc. attributable to air pollution based on models and simulations. Also these studies are based on secondary data and extrapolation of findings based on small sample size to a larger population. These estimates do not depict the actual status as there are no conclusive data available in the country to establish direct correlation  of  death/  disease  exclusively  due  to  pollution.  Health  effects  of  pollution, including  air  pollution,  are  synergistic  manifestation  of  factors  which  include  food  habits, occupational habits, socio-economic status, medical history, immunity, heredity, etc., of the individuals.

- (c) The Government has taken several steps to combat air pollution in the country, which inter alia , includes the following:
-  Notification of National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
-  Revision of emission standards for industrial sectors from time to time.
-  Setting up of monitoring network for assessment of ambient air quality.
-  Monitoring of ambient air quality at 793 locations covering 344 cities/ towns in 28 States  and  7  Union  Territories  across  the  country  under  National  Air  Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP).
-  Launching of National Air Quality index.
-  Notifications  of  6  waste  management  rules  covering  solid  waste,  plastic  waste,  ewaste,  bio-medical  waste,  construction  &  demolition  waste  and  hazardous  wastes issued in 2016.
-  Introduction of cleaner / alternate fuels like gaseous fuel (CNG, LPG etc.).
-  Leapfrogging from BS-IV to BS-VI fuel standards.
-  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 for controlling air pollution.
-  Installation of on-line continuous (24x7) monitoring devices by major industries.
-  Launched  National  Clean  Air  Programme  (NCAP)  in  January  2019  to  tackle  the problem of air pollution in a comprehensive manner with targets to achieve 20 to 30% reduction in PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations by 2024. The plan includes 102 nonattainment cities, across 23 States and Union Territories.
-  Notification of Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) for Delhi and NCR.
-  Comprehensive Action Plan (CAP) for air pollution control in Delhi and NCR.
-  Organization of clean air campaigns, etc.

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