Lok Sabha Question No. 3193 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-06
Subject: Pollution in Himalayas
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Ranjanben Dhananjay Bhatt

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3193

TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.08.2021

## Pollution in Himalayas

## 3193. SHRIMATI RANJANBEN DHANANJAY BHATT:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  the  Himalayas  have  been  affected  by  pollution caused by the urban areas of the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  take  any  steps  to  save  Himalayas  from  carbon emitted by urban pollutants;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) and (b)

Some studies  have  been  conducted  by  various  organizations/  institutes  in the country on the effect of pollution in Himalayas. Thestudy conducted by H.N.B Garhwal Universityat Satopanth Glacier in the Central Himalayasindicates  that  black  carbon  is  majorly  transported  through  air mass from Indo Gangetic Plains.

The  G.B.  Pant  National  Institute  of  Himalayan  Environment  and  Wadia Institute  of  Himalayan  Geology  (WIHG)  have  also  conducted  studies  on two glaciers i.e., Parbati in Himachal Pradesh and Gangotri in Uttarakhand. The observations showed moderate presence of carbonaceous aerosols viz. organic, elemental and black carbon.

Also, studies conducted by National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research and Space  Physics  Laboratoryunder  Ministry  of  Earth  Sciences  attheir Himansh station in Lahaul-Spiti region have revealed that the total suspended particulate matter showed significant variations having dominance of mineral dust components (~67%). The black carbon contributes ~ 4% to near surface composite aerosol mass concentrations.

However, in this regard,detailed research is required for complete understanding of the black carbon emissionsin the Himalayas.

| (c) and (d)   | The Government of India has taken several steps to curb environmental pollutionin Himalayan states which, inter alia, includes leapfrogging from BS-IV to BS-VI norms for fuel and vehicles from 1 st April, 2020; Introduction of cleaner/alternate fuels like CNG, LPG, ethanol blending in petrol; Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME) -2 scheme; shifting of Brick kilns to zig-zag technology; setting up of waste processing plants; Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for plastic and e-waste management, etc. The Central Government launched National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) as a long-term, time-bound, national level strategy to tackle the air pollution problem across the country in a comprehensive manner with targets to achieve 20 % to 30 % reduction in Particulate Matter concentrations by 2024. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is giving financial assistance to States for setting up of waste to energy plants. Scheme like 'Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana' is promoting use of cleaner household cooking fuels Under Central Sector Scheme on 'Promotion of Agricultural Mechanization forin-situmanagementof crop residue practiceshave been introduced in the States of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi'. The States and Union Territories of the Indian Himalayan Region have taken several steps to curb environmental pollution which inter-alia includes banning of burning of plastic and garbage, establishment of compactors to   |
|---------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| (e)           | Does not arise.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |

*****