Lok Sabha Question No. 2695 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-06
Subject: Air Pollution
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Rakesh Singh, Balubhau (Alias Suresh Narayan) Dhanorkar, Krupal Balaji Tumane, Kani K. Navas, Arvind Ganpat Sawant, Anantkumar  Hegde

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UN-STARRED QUESTION N0. 2695

TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.03.2020

## Air Pollution

2695.    SHRI RAKESH SINGH:

SHRI BALUBHAU ALIAS SURESH NARAYAN DHANORKAR:

SHRI KRUPAL BALAJI TUMANE:

SHRI K. NAVASKANI:

SHRI ARVIND GANPAT SAWANT:

SHRI ANANTKUMAR HEGDE:

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

- (a) the  current  policy  for  regulating  air  quality  and  reducing  air  pollution  across  the country;
- (b) whether due to poor air quality and increasing pollution, the people are facing many health problems like respiratory disease, heart attack and cancer and if so, the details thereof indicating the total number of patients suffered from respiratory diseases due to air pollution during the last three years, State/UT-wise;
- (c) whether as per the World Health Organisation lakhs of people lose their lives due to air pollution and if so, the total number of deaths due to air pollution during the last three years, State/UT-wise;
- (d) whether the Government has enacted stringent laws to control air pollution levels and punish violators of the said rules and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government proposes to provide any uniform pollution limit across the country  as  per  the  standards  of  the  World  Health  Organisation,  if  so,  the  details thereof along with the other steps taken by the Government to control and minimize air pollution in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO )

- (a) The  Government  has  notified  the  'National  Ambient  Air  Quality  Standards'to monitor  the  air  quality  across  the  country.  Further,several  steps  are  taken  by  the Government  to  combat  air  pollution  which  inter  alia  include,  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.), launching of National Air Quality index, leapfrogging from  BS-IV  to  BS-VI  fuel  standards,  notification  of  Construction  and  Demolition Waste Management Rules, Notifications of 6 waste management rules covering solid

waste, plastic waste, e-waste, bio-medical waste, C&D waste and hazardous wastes, 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 (GRAP) for Delhi and NCR, Comprehensive Action Plan (CAP) for air pollution control in Delhi and  NCR,  formulation  of  National  Clean  Air  Programme  (NCAP),  organization  of clean air campaigns etc.

- (b) & (c) The Central Pollution Control Board presently monitors ambient air quality in 793 locations covering 344 cities across the country under the National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP). Most of the cities have been found complying to the National Standards with respect to SO2 & NO2 levels. However, as per last fiveyear  ambient  air  quality  data  (2014-2018),  122  cities  were  identified  as  the  nonattainment cites, those having PM10>60 µg/m3.

There  is no  conclusive data available to establish a direct correlation of death/disease exclusively due to air pollution. Air pollution is one of the many factors affecting respiratory ailments and associated diseases. Health is impacted by a number of include food habits, occupational habits, socio-economic status, medical history, immunity, heredity, etc., of the individuals apart from the environment.

(d) CPCB and SPCBs are vested with powers under The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act and under the Environment (Protection) Act, , 1986 to issue directions for the closure, prohibition or regulation of any industry, operation or process; or stoppage or regulation of the supply of electricity or water or any other service, for protection of the  environment  Various  directions  have  been  issued  by  CPCB  to  SPCBs,  PCCs  and other  concerned  agencies  for  effective  implementation  of  pollution  related  rules  from time to time. CPCB issued direction under Section 5 of E (P) Act.

(e) The National  Ambient  Air  Quality  Standards  were  notified  by  the  Government based  on  health  based  studies  and  geo-climatic  condition  of  the  countryto  provide  a uniform pollution limit across the country.