Lok Sabha Question No. 701 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-12
Subject: Community-based Solutions to Air Pollution
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Pradyut Bordoloi, Feroze Varun Gandhi

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 701 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.12.2022

## Community-based Solutions to Air Pollution

## 701. SHRI PRADYUT BORDOLOI: SHRI FEROZE VARUN GANDHI:

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

- (a) whether any credible study has been conducted dealing with the issue of air pollution and recommendations to deal with the same;
- (b) the  amount  has  been  set  aside to  deal  with  the  issue  of  air  pollution  since  2000,  yearwise;
- (c) whether  the  Government  is  taking  any  steps  to  ensure  representation  of  historically underrepresented sections not limited to women and tribal communities in environmental policy making; and
- (d) whether the Government is taking any steps to encourage community-based solutions to combat air pollution, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) Source  Apportionment  (SA)  Studies  have  been  carried  out  in  37  cities  to  identify  various sources and their contributions to air pollution.

Government has launched National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in 2019 as a national level strategy to reduce air pollution levels across the country. Under NCAP, City Specific Clean Air Action Plans for 131 non-attainment/million plus cities have been prepared to improve the air quality.

- (b)

The amount allotted under NCAP and under 15th Finance Commission to deal with the issue of air pollution since financial year 2019-20, year-wise is given as Annexure-I .

(c) & (d)

The  Government  undertakes  public  consultations  in  making  of  environmental  policies.  The community has to  adopt  community-based  solutions  which inter-alia include  segregation  of waste  at  source,  use  of  public  transport,  maintenance  of  vehicles  and  having  valid  PUC certification,  discourage  use  of  DG  sets,  adoption  of  electric  vehicles  etc.  for  combating  air pollution.

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Annexure -I Details of year-wise funds allocation under NCAP and under 15th Finance Commission

| Details of funds under NCAP   | Details of funds under NCAP   | Details of funds under NCAP   | Details of funds under NCAP   | Details of funds under NCAP   | Details of funds under NCAP   | Details of funds under NCAP   | Details of funds under NCAP   |
|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
| Year                          | FY 19- 20                     | FY 20-21                      | FY 21-22                      | FY 22-23                      | FY 23-24                      | FY 24-25                      | FY 25-26                      |
| Fund allocated (in Rs. crore) | 224.92                        | 150.52                        | 98.75                         | 596.6                         | 650                           | 650                           | 651.25                        |
| Details of funds under XVFC   | Details of funds under XVFC   | Details of funds under XVFC   | Details of funds under XVFC   | Details of funds under XVFC   | Details of funds under XVFC   | Details of funds under XVFC   | Details of funds under XVFC   |
| Fund allocated (in Rs. crore) | -                             | 4400                          | 2025                          | 2299                          | 2431                          | 2571                          | 2621                          |