Lok Sabha Question No. 350 (STARRED), answered on 2019-01-04
Subject: Toxic Air
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: KRISHNAN NARAYANASAMY RAMACHANDRAN, KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION N0. *350

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.01.2019

## Toxic Air

## *350.   SHRI K.N. RAMACHANDRAN: SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware that increasing pollution and rapid industrialization are making the air in the country more toxic and if so, the details thereof along with the level of carbon dioxide concentration in metro cities of the country, city-wise;
- (b) whether around one lakh deaths occur every year due to breathing ailments and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  assessed  the  impact  of  increased  air  pollution  on  the health of the people in Indian cities and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether suggestions of the National Green Tribunal to reduce/control pollution have been  followed/implemented  properly  in  the  country,  if  so,  the  details  of  cities adhering to environmental guidelines in this regard and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the concrete measures being taken by the Government to deal with the harmful effects of  pollution  on  human  life,  animals  and  environment  and  to  ensure  that  the  Indian cities do not go towards a health crisis due to increased pollution?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

- (a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## Statement referred to in reply to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 350 due for reply on 04.01.2019 regarding 'Toxic Air' By Shri K.N. Ramachandran and Shri Kaushalendra Kumar, Hon'ble Member of Lok Sabha

- (a) There is no increasing trend with regard to air pollutants that reflects the air becoming more toxic in the country.Analysis of data revealed that SO2 levels were within the National  Ambient  Air  Quality  Standard  (NAAQS)  in  all  43  cities  during  2015-17. With  respect  to  NO2,  14  cities  showed  an  increasing  trend,  14  cities  showed  a decreasing  concentration,  14  cities  showed  a  fluctuating  trend  and  1  city  revealed steady concentration. With respect to PM10, 14 cities showed an increasing trend, 8 cities showed a decreasing concentration, 21 cities showed a fluctuating trend. With respect  to  PM2.5,  trends  are  available  for  15  cities  and  out  of  15  cities,  05  cities showed  an  increasing  trend,  04  cities  showed  a  decreasing  concentration,  06  cities showed a fluctuating trend.

Carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas,is not monitored city-wise. As per India's Second Biennial Update Report (BUR) to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change  (UNFCCC),  the  net  national  Green  House  Gases  emissions  were  around 2.306 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2014.

- (b)&(c)  There is no conclusive data available in the country to establish direct correlation of death/disease  exclusively  due  to  air  pollution.  However,  air  pollution  is  one  of  the triggering  factors  for  respiratory  ailments  and  associated  diseases.  Government  has initiated National Environmental Health Profile study. It is aimed to make assessment of human health impact in consequence of exposure to outdoor air pollution exposures in 20 selected cities across the country. The study will cover 4 zones of the country i.e. North, South, East and Westand will be a collaborative effort of Central Pollution Control Board/ State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and medical institutions.
- (d) Hon'ble National Green Tribunal has passed orders and given suggestions with regard to prevention, control and mitigation of air pollution in Delhi and NCR from time to time. These Orders/suggestions are being complied with by the concerned agencies.
- (e) The  Government  has  taken  various  measures  to  control  pollution  which 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 National Capital  Territory  of  Delhi  and  from  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;  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.

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