Lok Sabha Question No. 889 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-14
Subject: Deaths due to Air Pollution
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: SUNIL KUMAR SINGH, JITENDRA CHAUDHURY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.889

TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.12.2018

## Deaths due to Air Pollution

## 889. SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH:

## SHRI JITENDRA CHAUDHURY:

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

- (a) whether million of people die in the country due to air pollution annually;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  total  number  of  deaths  reported  due  to  air pollution during the last three years and the current year;
- (c) whether burning of fossil fuels are main reasons behind the air pollution and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  country  is  facing  huge  losses  on  the  healthcare  of  people  due  to  air pollution and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether  it  is  fact  that  Delhi  is  the  most  polluted  city  in  the  country  and  if  so,  the details thereof and the action taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

(a) &(b) A few reports have appeared in the media regarding the impact of air pollution on human health estimated based on models, simulations and extrapolations. However, there are no conclusive data available in the country to establish direct correlation of death/disease exclusively due to air pollution. Air pollution is one of the triggering factors for 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) Source  apportionment  studies  conducted  in  six  major  cities  viz.  Delhi,  Mumbai, Chennai,  Bangalore,  Pune  and  Kanpur  to  identify  major  sources  and  their  contribution  to particulate  matter  pollution  indicates  road  dust  suspension,  vehicles,  garbage  burning, construction, DG sets, industries, etc. to be the major sources of particulate pollution in these cities.

(d) There are no conclusive data available in the country to establish direct correlation of death/disease exclusively due to air pollution and thereby to calculatelosses on the healthcare of people due to air pollution.

(e) Central Pollution Control Board is monitoring the ambient air quality at 731 ambient air quality monitoring stations covering 312 cities/towns in 29 States and 6 Union Territories under National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP). An assessment of ambient air quality data for the year 2017 with respect to annual average value of NO2, PM10 and PM2.5 indicated that Delhi is at 3rd position with respect to NO2, 4th position with respect to PM10 and 2nd position with respect to PM2.5 concentrations.

The  Government  has  taken  several  steps  to  address  air  pollution,  which inter  alia include  notification  of  National  Ambient  Air  Quality  Standards;    revision  of  emission standards  for  industrial  sectors  from  time  to  time;  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; leapfrogging from  BS-IV  to  BS-VI  fuel  standards;  notification  of  Construction  and  Demolition  Waste Management Rules; banning of burning of biomass;  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, 1986  for  controlling  air  pollution;  installation  of  on-line  continuous  (24x7)  monitoring devices  by  major  industries;  notification  of  Graded  Response  Action  Plan  for  Delhi  and NCR;comprehensive action plan for air pollution control in Delhi and NCR;formulation of National Clean Air Programme (NCAP); organization of  clean air campaigns, etc.

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