Lok Sabha Question No. 2797 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-28
Subject: Diseases due to Air Pollution
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: P. C. MOHAN

## 2797.SHRI P.C. MOHAN:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the report of the World Health Organization that air pollution is causing cardio-vascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and high cancers which accounts to 94 per cent of the premature deaths in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the number of people died due to bad air/air pollution in India, for the past three years, State-wise;
- (c) the prime reasons for air pollution in major Indian cities, including Bengaluru;
- (d) the steps taken/will be taken to control/decrease the air pollution; and
- (e) whether the Government is considering any special package to control air pollution in Bengaluru and Karnataka 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) The  World  Health  Organization  (WHO),  from  time  to  time,  has  been publishing  estimates  of  mortality/  morbidity  attributable  to  environmental  pollution.  It  has been reported inthe publication, 'Burden of disease from the joint effects of household and ambient air pollution for 2016' that globally 7 million deaths were attributable to the joint effects of household air pollution(HAP) and ambient air pollution (AAP) in 2016. About 94% of  these  deaths  occur  in  low  and  middle-income  (LMI)countries.  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,  socioeconomic  status,  medical history, immunity, heredity, etc., of the individuals.

(c) The  Source  apportionment  studies  conducted  in  six  major  cities  namely,  Delhi, Mumbai,  Chennai,  Bengaluru,  Pune  and  Kanpur  to  identify  major  sources  and  their contribution to pollution indicated road dust suspension, vehicles, garbage burning, construction, DG sets, industries, etc. to be the major sources of pollution in these cities.

(d) 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

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOKSABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2797

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.12.2018

## Diseases due to Air Pollution

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 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,  including  Bengaluru,  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 major industries; notification of Graded Response Action Plan for Delhi time bound implementation of NCAP. (e)  The  Government  has  taken  various  initiatives  to  control  air  pollution  in  Karnataka including  Bengaluru,  which inter  alia ,  include  framing  of  city  specific  action  plans  for Bengaluru,  Davanagere,  Gulbarga  and  Hubli-Dharwad,  city  specific  action  plans  for  Air quality monitoring, etc.

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