Lok Sabha Question No. 4080 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-19
Subject: Deaths due to Air Pollution
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Vijay Kumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTI ON NO. 4080 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 TH MARCH, 2021

## DEATHS DUE TO AIR PO LLUTION

## 4080. SHRI VIJAY KUM AR:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WE LFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether people are dying prematurely due to air pollution;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the number of deaths reported due to air pollution in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and other cities of the country during the last five years; and
- (d)  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  reduce  the level  of  air  pollution  and  prevent  such deaths?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) to (c): There is no conclusive data available to establish a direct correlation of death exclusively due to air pollution. Air pollution is one of the many factors affecting r ailments and associated diseases. Health is impacted by a number of fa ctors which includes food habits, occupational habits, socio - economic status, medical history, immunity, heredity, etc., o the individuals apart from the environment.

While air pollution is known to be one of the aggravating factors for many respi ailments, specific information on the number of deaths exclusively due to air pollutio available.

(d): In January 2019, Government launched National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) to tackle the problem of air pollution in a comprehensive manner with targets to achieve 20 to 30 % red in PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations by 2024, keeping 2017 as base year. The overall objectiv to  augment  and  evolve  effective  ambient  air quality  monitoring  network  across  the  country besides ensuring comprehensive management plan for prevention, control and abatement of pollution and enhancing public awareness and capacity building measures.

The plan includes 102 non - attainment cities , across 23 States and Union Territories, on the basis of their ambient air quality data between 2011 and 2015 and WHO report 2014/2 Specific action plans have been approved for ground implementation.

In view of probable linkage of Respiratory illness es with deteriorating Air Quality Index, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has also initia ted following activities: -

- Undertaking  daily  Sentinel  surveillance  for  Acute  Respiratory  Illnesses  in  Emerg Department of different hospitals in Delhi.
- Providin g  feedback  to  hospitals  for  undertakings  appropriate  measures  for  managi respiratory illnesses in their hospitals.
- Air Pollution and Health effects campaign have also been run on Social media (on websites  of  Ministry  of  Health  and  Family  Welfare  an d  National  Centre  for  Disease Control, Twitter handle and Facebook page).
- The  States  and  UTs  have  also  been  advised  to  initiate  sentinel  surveillance  for Respiratory Illnesses in at least four to five major hospitals in those cities which listed as highly polluted cities by Central Pollution Control Board.
- Time  and  again  issued  Health  advisory  on  health  effects  of  Air  Pollution  to  H ea th department of all States.
- Prepared and shared IEC posters on Air Pollution and its health effects with S tate Health Departments.