Lok Sabha Question No. 3941 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-01-04
Subject: Dust Pollution by Cement Plants
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: GANESH SINGH

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3941

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.01.2019

## Dust Pollution by Cement Plants

## 3941. SHRI GANESH SINGH:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  health  of  citizens  of  Satna  City  of  Madhya Pradesh  is  adversely  affected  due  to  dust  pollution  caused  by  cement  plants  in  and around the District;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  details  of  complaints  lodged  against  cement  industries along with the action taken thereon;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  not  taken  any  step  to  address  dust  and  air  pollution  by installation  of  online  continuous  (24x7)  monitoring  devices  and  Deployment  and Evaluation  of  air  purification  units  and  Air  Purifying  Unit  devices  to  tackle  dust pollution and if so, the reasons therefor; and
- (d) whether the Government proposes to take concrete measures including the launching of any  pilot  projects  to  tackle  dust  pollution  in  the  District  Satna  and  if  so,  the  details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b) Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) monitors the ambient air quality across the  country  under  National  Air  Quality  Monitoring  Programme  (NAMP).  There  are  two stations  operating  in  Satna  city  of  Madhya  Pradesh.  There  is  no  conclusive  data  available about adverse impacts owing to dust pollution of cement industries in Satna city. Also, no complaint against cement industries of Satna city, M.P. has been received by the CPCB in last  two  years.    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) According to CPCB, 136  Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) are connected to CPCB server and it covers 72 cities across the country. The CAAQMS network is strengthened to cover all the 46 million plus cities and state capitals. Presently  one  CAAQMS  is  operating  in  Satna  city.  Wind  Augmentation  Purifying  Unit (WAYU) have been installed under pilot project for control of pollution at traffic interaction in Delhi.

The Government has taken several steps to address air pollution, which inter alia include issuance  of  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  biomass  burning;    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.  The Government  has  formulated  National  Clean  Air  Programme  (NCAP)  as  a  long  term  time bound pan India strategy to tackle the increasing air pollution problem across the country in a comprehensive manner. Hundred  (100) non-attainment cities have been selected for formulation  and  implementation  of  city  specific  action  plan  under  NCAP.  In  addition,  the NCAP  has  many  additional  peripheral  components  such  as,  Technical  Assessment  Cell, technology support, sharing of international best practices, awareness and capacity building, source apportionment studies, plantation drive, intensive inspection drive etc. to support the time bound implementation of NCAP.

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