Lok Sabha Question No. 106 (STARRED), answered on 2019-06-28
Subject: Impact of Air Pollution on Life Expectancy
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Suresh Kodikunnil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 106

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.06.2019

## Impact of Air Pollution on Life Expectancy

*106. SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware of any scientific research leading to the conclusion that  the  life  expectancy  in  India  has  gone  down  by  2.6  years  due  to  deadly  diseases caused by air pollution;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereto;
- (c) whether the Government has been successful in containing and gradually bringing down the pollution levels in the Indian cities as a part of any targeted approach on par with International norms and protocols;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

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

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Statement referred to in parts (a) to (e) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 106 due for reply on 28.06.2019 regarding 'Impact of Air Pollution on Life Expectancy' by SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH, Hon'ble Member of Parliament

(a) & (b) Various  Organizations/  Institutes,  from  time  to  time,  have  been  publishing estimates  of  mortality/  morbidity  attributable  to  environmental  pollution  based  on  models, simulations  and  extrapolations.  One  such  estimate  published  in  2019  reports  total  life expectancy loss in South Asia from air pollution to be 2 years and 6 months. 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),  (d)  &  (e)  The  Central  Government  has  taken  a  number  of  regulatory  measures  for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution in the country. Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) data indicated general improvement in air quality of Delhi  in  2018.  Number  of  'Good'  to  'Moderate'  days  has  increased  to  159  in  2018,  as compared to 152 in 2017 and 106 in 2016, and number of 'Poor' to 'Severe' days has reduced to  206,  compared  to  213  in  2017  and  246  in  2016.  In  Delhi,  there  is  7.3%  and  14.8% reduction in PM2.5 levels and 8.6% and 16.5% reduction in PM10 levels in 2018 over 2017 and 2016 respectively. Various measures taken by the Central Government include-

## Action Plans for Improvement of Air Quality in Delhi NCR :

- (i) Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) was notified on January 12, 2017, for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution in Delhi and NCR. It identifies graded measures and  implementing  agencies  for  response  to  four  AQI  categories,  namely,  Moderate  to Poor, Very Poor, Severe and Severe + or Emergency.
- (ii) The  Central  Government  has  notified  a  Comprehensive  Action  Plan  (CAP)  in  2018 identifying  timelines  and  implementing  agencies  for  actions  identified  for  prevention, control and mitigation of air pollution in Delhi and NCR.

Action Plans for Improvement of Air Quality of Other Cities :

- (i) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has launched National Clean Air Programme  (NCAP)  in  January  2019  to  tackle  the  problem  of  air  pollution  in  a comprehensive manner with targets to achieve 20 to 30 % reduction in PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations  by  2024.  This  is  keeping  2017  as  the  base  year  for  the  comparison  of concentration.  The  overall  objective  is  to  augment  and  evolve  effective  ambient  air quality monitoring network across the country besides ensuring comprehensive management plan for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution and enhancing public awareness and capacity building measures.
- (ii) 102 non-attainment cities have been identified based on ambient air quality data for the period 2011 - 2015 and WHO report 2014/2018. A total of 86 city specific action plans have been approved for ground implementation.

## Monitoring

-  Setting  up  of  monitoring  network  for  assessment  of  ambient  air  quality.  Central Presently, ambient air quality is being monitored at 779 locations covering 339 cities in 29  states  &  6  Union  Territories  across the  country  under  National  Air  Quality

Monitoring  Programme  (NAMP).  Further,  real  time  monitoring  is  taking  place  at  170 locations in 102 cities in 18 States/UTs.

-  Notification of National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
-  Launch of National Air Quality Index.
-  Implementation  of  Air  Quality  Early  Warning  System  for  Delhi  in  October,  2018  in association with Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).

## Transport

-  Leapfrogging from BS-IV to BS-VI fuel standards since 1st April, 2018 in NCT of Delhi and from by 1st April, 2020 in the rest of the country.
-  Introduction  of  cleaner  /  alternate  fuels  like  gaseous  fuel  (CNG,  LPG  etc.),  ethanol blending.
-  Promotion of public transport and improvements in roads and building of more bridges to ease congestion on roads.
-  Operationalisation of Eastern Peripheral Expressway & Western Peripheral Expressway to divert non-destined traffic from Delhi.
-  Streamlining the issuance of Pollution Under Control Certificate.
-  Environment  Protection  Charges  (EPC)  have  been  imposed  on  diesel  vehicles  with engine capacity of 2000cc and above in Delhi NCR.

## Industry

-  Badarpur thermal power plant has been closed from 15th October, 2018.
-  Notification of stricter emission norms for power plants.
-  All brick kilns have been shifted to zig-zag technology in Delhi and NCR.
-  Installation of on-line continuous (24x7) monitoring devices all red category industries in Delhi and NCR.
-  Revision of emission standards for industrial sectors from time to time.
-  Ban on pet coke and furnace oil - monitoring of use of  pet coke in Lime Kilns/Cement Kilns and Calcium Carbide Industry in Delhi and NCR States.

## Biomass and Solid Waste

-  A new Central Sector Scheme on 'Promotion of Agricultural Mechanization for in-situ management of Crop Residue in the States of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi' for the period from 2018-19 and 2019-20 has been launched.
-  Banning of burning of biomass/garbage.
-  3 Waste-to-Energy (W-t-E) plants are currently operational in Delhi with atotal capacity of 5100 Tonnes Per Day (TPD).
-  Notifications of 6 waste management rules covering solid waste, plastic waste, e-waste, bio-medical waste, C&D waste and hazardous wastes issued in 2016.

## Dust

-  Notifications regarding dust mitigation measures  for construction and demolition activities.
-  Number of  mechanised  road  sweeping  machines  has  been  increased  significantly  and presently 60 machines are deployed for cleaning of roads in Delhi.

## Public Outreach

-  Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change and Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi Governments launched Clean Air for Delhi Campaign from 10th -

23rd  Feb  2018  and  to  check  air  polluting  activities  pre  and  post  Diwali, a  special campaign  called  'Clean  Air  Campaign'  during  November  01,  2018  to  November  10, 2018.

-  Ministry is promoting peoples participation and awareness building among citizens for environmental  conservation  through  Green  Goods  Deeds  that  focus  on  promotion  of cycling,  saving  water  and  electricity,  growing  trees,  proper  maintenance  of  vehicles, following of lane discipline and reducing congestion on roads by car pooling etc.
-  Development  of  mechanism  for  redressal  of  public  complaints  regarding  air  pollution issues in Delhi and NCR (through 'Sameer App', 'Emails'(aircomplaints.cpcb@gov.in) and 'Social Media Networks' (Facebook and Twitter)  etc.

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