Lok Sabha Question No. 327 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-19
Subject: Impact of Air Pollution
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 327

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.07.2016

## Impact of Air Pollution

## 327. SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL:

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

- (a) whether the Government has conducted any study to assess the impact of growing air pollution  on  health  of  the  citizens  of  metropolitan/non-metropolitan  cities  and  rural areas of the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether due to increasing pollution, the people are facing many health problems like respiratory  diseases,  heart  attack  and  cancer  and  if  so,  the  steps  taken  by  the Government to improve the air quality;
- (c) whether the  Government has  any proposal to  prescribe  any  uniform  pollution  limit across the country as per the standards of World Health Organisation; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the measures taken by the Government to achieve the target?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## (SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE)

(a) & (b) Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has carried out epidemiological studies in the past to assess the impact of pollution on human health. Air Pollution could be one of the triggering  factors  for  respiratory  ailments  and  associated  diseases.  However,  there  are  no conclusive  data  available  in  the  country  to  establish  direct  correlationship  of  diseases exclusively due to air pollution. 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)  Central  Pollution  Control  Board  (CPCB)  has  evolved  National  Ambient  Air  Quality Standards  (NAAQS)  in  2009  considering  various  aspects  including  health  impacts  and background  values  provided  in  WHO  Guidelines  for  health  based  threshold  values.  The Ministry  notifies  uniform  standards,  from  time  to  time,  which  are  applicable  nationally  in respect of industrial emission & discharge, ambient air quality & water quality, ambient noise levels etc.  However, in case of sensitive areas, stringent norms have been prescribed.

(d)  The major steps being taken by the Government to control air pollution inter alia include the following:-

- (i) Notification of National Ambient Air Quality Standards;
- (ii) Formulation of environmental regulations / statutes;
- (iii) Setting up of monitoring network for assessment of ambient air quality;
- (iv) Introduction of cleaner / alternate fuels like gaseous fuel (CNG, LPG etc.), ethanol blend etc.;
- (v) Promotion of cleaner production processes.
- (vi) Launching of National Air Quality index by the Prime Minister in April, 2015;
- (vii) Implementation  of  Bharat  Stage  IV  (BS-IV)  norms  in  63  selected  cities  and universalization of BS-IV by 2017;
- (viii) Decision  taken  to  leapfrog  directly  from  BS-IV  to  BS-VI  fuel  standards  by  1st April, 2020;
- (ix) Taxing polluting vehicles and incentivizing hybrid and electric vehicles;
- (x) Comprehensive  amendments  to  various  Waste  Management  Rules  including Municipal Solid Waste, Plastic Waste, Hazardous Waste, Bio-medical Waste and Electronic Waste notified;
- (xi) Notification of Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules;
- (xii) Ban on burning of leaves, biomass, municipal solid waste;
- (xiii) Promotion of public transport network of metro, buses, e-rickshaws and promotion  of  car  pooling,  Pollution  Under  Control,  lane  discipline,  vehicle maintenance;
- (xiv) Revision  of  existing  environmental  standards  and  formulation  of  new  standards for prevention and control of pollution from industries;
- (xv) Regular  co-ordination  meetings  at  official  and  ministerial  level  with  Delhi  and other State Governments within the NCR;
- (xvi) Issuance of directions under Section 5 of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and under Section 18(1)(b) of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981;
- (xvii) Installation of on-line continuous (24x7) monitoring devices by major industries.

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