Lok Sabha Question No. 1689 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-31
Subject: Air Pollution
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Vijay Kumar Hansdak, Sunil Kumar Soni

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1689

TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.07.2023

## Air Pollution

## 1689.   SHRI VIJAY KUMAR HANSDAK: SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SONI:

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

- (a) whether the  Government has  undertaken  any  study  to  assess  the  impact  of  air  pollution, particularly on occupationally exposed outdoor worker groups and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the  Government has any plan to  enact  laws for  protecting such groups  from  air pollution who are more vulnerable because of their occupation in Tribal populated region particularly in Jharkhand and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the manner in which a city is classified under Central Scheme in view of air pollution;
- (d) the name of the cities of Chhattisgarh approved by the Central Pollution Control Board for improvement in air quality; and
- (e) the funds sanctioned for the action plan of the cities of Chhattisgarh for the financial years 2021-22  and  2022-23  as  per  the  recommendation  of  the  Fifteenth  Finance  Commission along with the norms determined to spend the sanctioned amount?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

## (a) & (b)

The  central  Pollution  Control  Board  has  assessed  in  the  past  impact  of  air  pollution  on occupationally exposed workers, staff associated with Solid waste management and ragpickers. It was observed that they were more vulnerable to adverse health impacts of air pollution and diseases  like  respiratory  impairments,  pneumonitis,  gastrointestinal  were  prevalent  among them. They also had increased risk of higher levels of heavy metals like chromium, lead and mercury in their bodies, with compromised lung functions.

To  protect  such  groups  from air  pollution,  being  vulnerable  because  of  their  occupation, Government  has  notified  the  Solid  Waste  Management  Rules,  2016,  under  which  the  Local Authorities and Village Panchayats of census town and Urban Agglomeration's are required to establish  a  system  to  recognise  organisations  of  waste  pickers  or  informal  waste  collectors. Local bodies are also required to promote and establish a system for integration of these waste pickers  and  waste  collectors  to  facilitate  their  participation  in  solid  waste  management including  door  to  door  collection  of  waste.  Also  the  local  authorities  and  Panchayats  shall ensure that the operator of a facility provides personal protection equipment including uniform, fluorescent  jacket,  hand  gloves,  raincoats,  appropriate  foot  wear  and  masks  to  all  workers handling solid waste and the same are used by the workforce.

(c) to (e) 123  Non-attainment  cities  where  air  quality  in  terms  of  PM10  concentrations  exceeding  the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for five consecutive years have been identified under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). Further, 42 Million plus cities funded under XVth Finance Commission  air  quality performance grant have been included in the  above programme. Total 131 of cities (89 Non-attainment cities; 34 Non-attainment & Million plus cities and 8 Million plus cities) have been included under the programme for improvement of air quality.

Three cities of Chhattisgarh, namely Raipur, Durg-bhilai and Korba have been covered under NCAP out of which Raipur and Durg-bhilai are funded under XVth Finance Commission air quality performance grant, and Korba is funded by the Ministry for taking measures to improve air  quality.  Details  of  funds  released  to  the  cities  of  Chhattisgarh  under  XVth  Finance Commission during FY 2021-22 and 2022-23 is annexed as Annexure-I.

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Annexure-I

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|        |              |        |        | Fund Sanctioned/Received/ Released during the Year (Amount in crore)   | Fund Sanctioned/Received/ Released during the Year (Amount in crore)   | Fund Sanctioned/Received/ Released during the Year (Amount in crore)   |
|--------|--------------|--------|--------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Sl No. | State        | Sl No. | City   | FY 21-22                                                               | FY 22-23                                                               | Total                                                                  |
|        |              |        |        | 4                                                                      | 6                                                                      |                                                                        |
| 1      | Chhattisgarh | 1      | Raipur | 35.35                                                                  | 29.00                                                                  | 64.35                                                                  |
|        |              | 2      | Bhilai | 33.35                                                                  | 27.00                                                                  | 60.35                                                                  |
| Total  | Total        | Total  | Total  | 68.70                                                                  | 56.00                                                                  | 124.70                                                                 |