Lok Sabha Question No. 1967 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-21
Subject: Environmental Performance Index
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: DINESH KASHYAP

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1967

TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.12.2018

## Environmental Performance Index

## 1967.  SHRI DINESH TRIVEDI:

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

- (a) whether India ranks 177 out of180 countries in terms of environmental performance index;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (c) the steps taken by the Government  to  improve  the  factors of  environmental performance  index  such  as  air  quality,  water  and  sanitation,  heavy  metals,  biodiversity and habitat etc.; and
- (d) the  details  regarding  the  awareness  programmes  conducted  by  the  Government  in order to promote environmental sustainability?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a) and (b) The Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy (YCELP), Yale University and  Columbia  University  in  collaboration  with  the  World  Economic  Forum  and  the  Joint Research  Centre  of  the  European  Commission  released  a  report  in  January,  2018  entitled 'Environmental Performance Index (EPI) 2018' which ranks180 countries on 24 performance indicators across ten issue categories covering environmental health and ecosystem vitality. India has been ranked at the 177 th position in this ranking.

An  assessment  indicates  that  the  weightages  given  to  the  parameters  at  the  three hierarchical  levels  (policy  objectives,  issue  categories  and  indicators)  are  different  in  2018 iterations.  The  changes  made  have  not  been  explained  or  backed  by  scientific  arguments. Different weightages and difference in methodology used implies that rankings arrived at are not comparable and has its limitations. Under the category,water resources, the only indicator shown  is  waste  water  treatment,  which  puts  developed  countries  on  the  top  since  it  is  a measure of the capacity to address a problem. The report relied on data gathered by NASA satellite in place of actual monitored data. Report has not been peer reviewed. Countries can be ranked on the basis of different criteria pollutants with different results.

(c) The measures  taken/being taken by the Government to check/control pollution and improve the air quality inter alia, include notification of  Graded Response Action Plan for different  levels  of  air pollution in  Delhi  and  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 from 2017; 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;  notification  of  Construction  and  Demolition  Waste Management  Rules;  banning  of  burning  of  biomass;  notifications  regarding  'Mandatory Implementation of Dust Mitigation Measures for Construction and Demolition Activities for projects requiring EC' and 'Mandatory Implementation of Dust Mitigation Measures for all Construction and Demolition Activities'; notification of Construction and Demolition Waste Management  Rules;  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, etc. Eastern Peripheral Expressway & Western Peripheral Expressway have been operationalised to divert non-destined traffic from Delhi. The Central Government has also  notified  a  Comprehensive  Action  Plan  (CAP)  identifying  timelines  and  implementing agency for actions identified for prevention, control and mitigation of air pollution in Delhi and NCR.

Also, the Government is implementing a nationwide water quality monitoring under National Water  Quality  Monitoring  Programme  (NWMP)  at  3500  locations  including  surface  and ground  water  in  association  with  State  Pollution  Control  Boards  (SPCBs)  &  Pollution Control  Committees  (PCCs)  to  fulfill  the  mandate  of  Water  (Prevention  &  Control  of Pollution) Act, 1974.This Ministry has been supplementing  the efforts of the State Governments for setting up facilities for collection, transportation and treatment of sewage and ensure that untreated sewage does not fall into the rivers.

(d) Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change and Delhi Government 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. Also,to check air polluting activities pre and post Diwali, a special campaign called 'Clean Air  Campaign' was organized during  November 01, 2018 to November 10, 2018.  For the purpose, 52 teams had been constituted that included members from Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Central Pollution Control Board and Government of Delhi and NCR towns (Noida, Gurugram, Greater Noida, Faridabad and Ghaziabad) to take on-spot ground actions to control air polluting activities and sensitizing public to ensure their effective participation. Media briefings are organized regularly to disseminate the appropriate information  to  citizens.  A  dedicated  media  corner,  twitter  and  Facebook  account  has  been created for access to air quality related information and to provide a platform to the public for lodging complaints. Further, SAMEER  app  has  been  launched wherein air quality information is available to public along with provisions for registering complaints against air polluting activities.

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