Lok Sabha Question No. 1044 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-22
Subject: Premature Deaths due to Air Pollution
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Satyadev Pachauri

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1044 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.11.2019

## Premature Deaths due to Air Pollution

## 1044. SHRI SATYADEV PACHAURI:

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

- (a) whether  it  is  a  fact  that  30  per  cent  of  the  premature  deaths  in  the  country  have occurred due to air pollution according to the Report of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE);
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the preventative 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)   Various organisations do publish studies from time to time, collating the modelbased estimates of mortality/ morbidity attributable to environmental pollution. But there are no conclusive data available in the country to  establish direct correlation of death/ disease exclusively due to pollution. Air pollution is one of the factors affecting 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.

(c)    The  Central  Government  has  taken  a  number  of  regulatory  measures  for  prevention, control and abatement of air pollution. These include:

## Action Plans for Improvement of Air Quality in Delhi NCR :

-  Graded  Response  Action  Plan  (GRAP)  was  notified  on  January  12,  2017,  for prevention,  control  and  abatement  of  air  pollution  in  Delhi  and  NCR.  It  identifies graded measures and implementing agencies for response to four Air Quality Index (AQI)  categories,  namely,  Moderate  to  Poor,  Very  Poor,  Severe  and  Severe  +  or Emergency.
-  The Central Government has notified a Comprehensive Action Plan (CAP) in 2018 identifying timelines and implementing agencies for actions identified for prevention, control and mitigation of air pollution in Delhi and NCR.

## Action Plans for Improvement of Air Quality of Other Cities :

-  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  has  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.  This  is  keeping  2017  as  the  base  year  for  the comparison of concentration. 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 and enhancing public awareness and capacity building measures.

-  102 non-attainment cities have been identified based on ambient air quality data for the period 2011 - 2015 and WHO report 2014/2018. A total of 86 city specific action plans have been approved for ground implementation.

## 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.
-  Promotion  of  public  transport  and  improvements  in  roads  and  building  of  more bridges to ease congestion on roads.
-  Operationalisation of Eastern Peripheral Expressway & Western Peripheral Expressway to divert non-destined traffic from Delhi.
-  Streamlining the issuance of Pollution Under Control Certificate.
-  Environment Protection  Charges  (EPC)  have  been  imposed  on  diesel  vehicles  with engine capacity of 2000cc and above in Delhi NCR.

## Industry

-  Badarpur thermal power plant has been closed from 15th October, 2018.
-  Notification of stricter emission norms for power plants.
-  About 2800 brick kilns have been shifted to zig-zag technology in Delhi and NCR.
-  Installation  of  on-line  continuous  (24x7)  monitoring  devices  in  all  red  category industries in Delhi and NCR.
-  Revision of emission standards for industrial sectors from time to time.
-  Ban  on  pet  coke  and  furnace  oil  -  monitoring  of  use  of  pet  coke  in  Lime  Kilns/ Cement Kilns and Calcium Carbide Industry in Delhi and NCR States.
-  Out of about 4700 industrial units in Delhi - NCR, about 2400 units have shifted to PNG.

## Biomass and Solid Waste

-  A new Central Sector Scheme on 'Promotion of Agricultural Mechanization for insitu 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/garbage.
-  3  Waste-to-Energy  (W-t-E)  plants  are  currently  operational  in  Delhi  with  a  total capacity of 5100 Tonnes Per Day (TPD).
-  Notifications  of  6  waste  management  rules  covering  solid  waste,  plastic  waste,  ewaste, bio-medical waste, C&D waste and hazardous wastes issued in 2016.

## Dust

-  Notifications  regarding  dust  mitigation  measures  for  construction  and  demolition activities.
-  Number of mechanized road sweeping machines has been increased significantly and presently 60 machines are deployed for cleaning of roads in Delhi.

## Public Outreach

-  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  &  Climate  Change  and  Uttar  Pradesh,  Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi Governments  launched 'Clean Air for Delhi' Campaign from 10th - 23rd Feb 2018 and to check air polluting activities pre and post Diwali, a special campaign called 'Clean Air Campaign' during November 01, 2018 to November 10, 2018.
-  Ministry  is  promoting  peoples  participation  and  awareness  building  among  citizens for environmental conservation through Green Goods 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.

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