Lok Sabha Question No. 3359 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-12
Subject: World Environment Day
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Bidyut Baran Mahato, Sudheer Gupta, Sanjay Sadashivrao Mandlik, Gajanan Chandrakant Kirtikar

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3359

TO BE ANSWERED ON 12/07/2019

## World Environment Day

## 3359.   SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI SANJAY SADASHIV RAO MANDLIK:

SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

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

- (a) whether the World Environment Day, 2019 was celebrated in the country recently;
- (b) if so, the details and main theme thereof;
- (c) the details of programmes organized on the occasion of World Environment Day;
- (d) whether excessive use of plastic is polluting our oceans, damaging marine life and threatening human health;
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the measures taken/being taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (f) the steps taken by the Government to generate awareness and public participation towards a cleaner environment?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b) Yes Sir. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) celebrated World Environment Day on 5 th and 6 th June, 2019.  This year the theme was 'Air Pollution'.

- (c) The details of the programmes organized on the occasion of World Environment Day are as under:
- (1) On 5 th June, 2019 saplings were planted and a campaign #SelfieWithSapling was launched with reward for best selfies.
- (2) On 6 th June,  2019  a  function  was  organized  at  New  Delhi.    The  details  of  the programme were as under:
- (i) A theme song 'Hawa Aane De' on the theme of air pollution was released.
- (ii) Two  books  namely,  (i)  Plant  Discoveries-2018  (ii)  Orchids  of  India  by Botanical  Survey  of  India,  Kolkata,  and  two  books  namely,  (i)  Animal Discoveries-2018(ii) Faunal Diversity of Mangrove Ecosystem in India by Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata were released.
- (iii) Special issue System for Tigers - Intensive Protection and Ecological Status by National Tiger Conservation Authority was also released.
- (iv) Two  Films  produced  by  Zoological  Survey  of  India  namely,  The  Great Nicobarand East Kolkata Wetlands were released.
- (v) A  Short  Film  Competition  and  Festival  on  Pollution  was  launched  in collaboration with CMS Vatavaran, New Delhi.
- (vi) Three thematic sessions were held on the themes: (i) Air Pollution (ii) Waste Management (iii) Forests: the Green Lungs of cities.
- (vii) Tripartite MoUs  with identified academic institutions in the States, respective  State  Pollution  Control  Boards  (SPCBs)  and  MoEFCC  were signed  as  part  of  National  Clean  Air  Programme  (NCAP)  to  control  and abate air pollution.
- (3) State Governments were requested to celebrate World Environment Day. Several programmes like marathon, exhibition, poster/painting competitions, oath taking ceremonies, etc. were held at different locations across the nation.

(d)&(e) The Government is taking proactive steps to deal with plastic pollution in oceans and its impact on marine life and human health. MoEFCC in supersession of the earlier Plastic Waste (Management  and  Handling)  Rules,  2011has  notified  the  Plastic  Waste  Management  Rules, 2016. Further amendment to the Rules was notified in March, 2018. As per the rules, carry bag and  plastic  sheet  made  of  virgin  or  recycled  plastic,  shall  not  be  less  than  fifty  microns  in thickness. The generators of waste have been mandated to take steps to minimize generation of plastic  waste,  not  to  litter  the  plastic  waste,  ensure  segregated  storage  of  waste  at  source  and handover segregated waste to local bodies or agencies authorised by the local bodies. The Rules also  mandate  the  responsibilities  of  local  bodies,  gram  panchayats,  waste  generators,  retailers and  street  vendors  to  manage  plastic  waste.  The  Rules  mandate  the  producers,  importers  and brand  owners  to  work  out  modalities  for  waste  collection  system  based  on  the  principle  of Extended Producer Responsibility.

(f) Government has taken several measures to generate awareness and public participation towards cleaner environment.  Details are as under:

- (i) Ministry is implementing Environment Education, Awareness and Training (EEAT) Scheme with the objective to promote environmental awareness among all sections of the society. Under the National Green Corps (NGC) programme about one  lakh  schools  have  been  involved  as  Eco-Clubs  wherein  nearly  thirty  lakh students are actively participating in various environmental protection and

conservation activities, including the issues related to the environment management.

- (ii) Ministry has launched the Green Good Deeds (GGDs) movement in January 2018 which  is  social  movement  with  the  aim  of  bringing  about  mass  environmental awareness in the society at all levels.
- (iii) National  Museum  of  Natural  History  and  its  regional  centres  organise  various outreach activities, theme-based exhibitions and galleries from time to time.
- (iv) MoEFCC airs Audio-Visuals creatives through Doordarshan, Lok Sabha TV, FM Channels,  Digital  Cinema,  TV  News  Channels  to  spread  message  to  protect environment.    Outdoor  publicity campaign and  advertisement in print media are also  published.  Social  media  like  Twitter,  Facebook,  etc.  are  also  used  to  spread awareness.
- (v) MoEFCC  and  Governments  of    Uttar  Pradesh,  Punjab,  Haryana,  Rajasthan  and Delhi  launched  Clean  Air  for  Delhi  Campaign  from  10th  -  23rd  Feb  2018.   The campaign aimed at sensitizing ground-level functionaries and general public about their  roles  in  making  the  air  quality  better  in  Delhi  along  with  enforcement  of various measures for improving air quality.
- (vi) SAMEER app has been launched wherein  air  quality  information  is  available  to public along with provision for registering complaints against air polluting activities.

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