Lok Sabha Question No. 2050 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-21
Subject: Deaths due to Air and Water Pollution
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: RAM KUMAR SHARMA KUSHWAHA, DUSHYANT CHAUTALA, NISHIKANT  DUBEY, RAVINDRA KUMAR PANDEY, RAJESH PANDEY, SISIR KUMAR ADHIKARI

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2050

TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.12.2018

## Deaths due to Air and Water Pollution

2050.     SHRI RAM KUMAR SHARMA:

SHRI DUSHYANT CHAUTALA:

SHRI NISHIKANT DUBEY:

SHRI RAVINDRA KUMAR PANDEY:

SHRI RAJESH PANDEY:

SHRI SISIR KUMAR ADHIKARI:

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

- (a) whether there is high child mortality rate in India than anywhere else in the world due to  air  pollution,  according  to  the  latest  estimates  released  by  the  World  Health Organization and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether twenty-thirty per cent of the premature deaths in the country occurred due to air and water pollution;
- (c) whether 1,00,000 children died in the country in 2016, due to air pollution and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) if so, the details of children and old people who died during the last three years and the preventive measures taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d) The  World  Health  Organization  (WHO),  from  time  to  time,  has  been publishing estimates of mortality/ morbidity  attributable to environmental pollution. These estimates  are,  however,  based  on  models,  simulations  and  extrapolations.  Though  air pollution  is  one  of  the  triggering  factors  for  respiratory  ailments  and  associated  diseases, there are no conclusive data available in the country to establish direct correlation of death/ disease  exclusively  due  to  air  pollution.  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.

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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