Lok Sabha Question No. 2823 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-12
Subject: Pollution Control Measures in Tamil Nadu
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: A. Chellakumar, M. Selvaraj

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

## LOK SABHA UN-STARRED QUESTION N0. 2823

TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.03.2021

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## Pollution Control Measures in Tamil Nadu

## 2823.   DR. A. CHALLAKUMAR: SHRI M. SELVARAJ:

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

- (a)   whether the Union Government has sanctioned any funds to State Government of Tamil Nadu to control pollution;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  of  funds allocated, sanctioned and utilized during the last three years; and
- (c) the details of work undertaken with the sanctioned funds during the said period?

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

(a) to(c)   Yes, Sir. Union Government has sanctioned funds to State Government of Tamil Nadu  for  checking  pollution  under  National  Clean  Air  Program  (NCAP),  a  national  level strategy for pan India implementation to reduce air pollution levels across the country through strategies for local, city, regional and transboundary levels. Based on continuous exceedance of  air  pollution  levels  of  National  Ambient  Air  Quality  Standards  (NAAQS)  during  20142018, 122 non-attainment cities (NACs) across India including Thoothukudi and Trichy from Tamil Nadu were identified and being funded under NCAP. Chennai Urban Agglomeration (U.A.), Madurai U.A. and Trichirappalli (known as Trichy) U.A have been given grant-in-aid based on Fifteenth Finance Commission (XVFC) recommendations for air quality improvement measures.

The  Central  Pollution  Control  Board  (CPCB)  in  association  with  State  Pollution  Control Boards/Pollution Control Committees (SPCBs/PCCs) is implementing the provisions of The Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 & The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to prevent and control of pollution of aquatic resources. The expenses incurred towards monitoring, sampling and analysis of water quality of aquatic resources is reimbursed under National Water Monitoring Programme (NWMP) to States/ UTs.

Under  NCAP,  during  the  last  three  years,  an  amount  of  Rs.  3.1  Cr  .  was  sanctioned  for Thoothukudi town in which Rs. 3.00 Cr.  was released in the Financial Year (FY) 2020-21.

Under XVFC recommendations, total of Rs. 233.00 Cr. was sanctioned which includes Rs. 181  Cr,  Rs.  31  Cr  and  Rs.  21  Cr  for  Chennai  U.A.,  Madurai  U.A.  and  Trichy  U.A. respectively in FY 2020-21. First installment of XV-FC fund of Rs. 116.5 Cr, includes Rs. 90.5  Cr,  Rs.  15.5  Cr  and  Rs.  10.5  Cr  for  Chennai  U.A.,  Madurai  U.A.  and  Trichy  U.A. respectively  is  released  and  second  installment  likely  to  be  released  based  on  the  defined framework for assessment of performance outcomes for Air Quality Management in Million Plus Cities.

Apart from this, reimbursement details made during the last three financial years for the state of Tamil Nadu for monitoring of water bodies under NWMPis appended in the table below:

| Expenses reimbursed towards monitoring of water bodies under NWMP for Tamil Nadu State during the last three years (in Rupees)   | Expenses reimbursed towards monitoring of water bodies under NWMP for Tamil Nadu State during the last three years (in Rupees)   | Expenses reimbursed towards monitoring of water bodies under NWMP for Tamil Nadu State during the last three years (in Rupees)   |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2017-18                                                                                                                          | 2018-19                                                                                                                          | 2019 -20                                                                                                                         |
| Rs. 53,16,900                                                                                                                    | Rs. 23,24,651                                                                                                                    | Rs. 25,04,726                                                                                                                    |

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