Lok Sabha Question No. 145 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-21
Subject: Violation of Environmental Regulations by Manufacturing Industries
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Meenakashi Lekhi

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 145

TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.06.2019

## Violation of Environmental Regulations by Manufacturing Industries

## 145. SHRIMATI MEENAKASHI LEKHI:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware that many companies of the manufacturing industry in India are violating environmental regulations;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether in view of the aggravating smog problem, the Government plans to impose stricter punitive measures for violating environmental regulations;
- (d) whether the Government is planning to invite civic participation in discussions relating to the rising level of air pollution in India; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

- (a) & (b) Yes, the Government is aware that there are some instances of Project Proponents (PPs) including manufacturing companies not complying with environmental conditions that are prescribed.  Such non-compliance is monitored through a system of six monthly reports  to  be  furnished  by  the  PPs  under  the  EIA  Notification,  2006  and  through  a network of Regional Offices (ROs) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.  ROs monitor the status of compliance with reference to Environment Clearance (EC)  conditions.  In  addition  to  the  Ministry,  there  is  a  network  of  Central  and  State Agencies that monitors the adherence to various Environmental Regulations.  In case of major non-compliance, action is initiated by these Agencies under the applicable statutes.
- (c) The Government has taken the following actions for stricter regulation of the aggravating smog problems-
- i. Directions have been given to initiate criminal  prosecution  against  agencies who fail to take corrective actions.
- ii. Power to file complaints to initiate criminal prosecution delegated to Scientists of the level of D and above.
- (d) & (e) The Government has taken the following initiatives for inviting civic participation-
- i. Clean  Air  Campaigns -  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.  2619  complaints  lodged during Clean Air Campaign held in November 2018 and 454 challans were issued.
- ii. Public  Outreach  and  Complaint  Redressal-  SAMEER  app has  been  launched wherein  air  quality  information  is  available  to  public  along  with  provisions  for registering  complaints  against  air  polluting  activities.  A  dedicated  media  corner, twitter  and  Facebook  accounts  have been created for access to air quality  related information and to provide a platform for lodging complaints.

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