opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 265 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-19
Subject: Plastic Waste
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: RAJESHBHAI NARANBHAI CHUDASAMA

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 265 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.07.2016

## Plastic Waste

## 265 SHRI RAJESHBHAI CHUDASAMA:

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

- (a) whether the Government has assessed the extent of damage caused to the environment by plastic waste in the country, if so, the details and outcome thereof; and
- (b) the details of the corrective/preventive steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE)

- (a) The  Ministry  has  not  carried  out  any  study  for  assessing  the  impact  of  plastic  waste. However,  plastic  waste  and  bags  if  not  collected  systematically  choke  drainage  system  and create unhygienic conditions; animals ingest plastic bags with the discarded food leading to their illness  and  sometimes  death;  plastic  waste  when  disposed  of  on  soil  reduces  recharging  of ground  water  aquifers  and  when  disposed  of  in  landfill  sites  causes  leaching  of  metals  and additives into the soil and ground water.
- (b) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has comprehensively revised the Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011, and notified Plastic Waste Management Rule in March, 2016. These  rules aims to minimize the plastic waste generation, recycling and utilization  of  plastic  waste  in  road  construction,  energy  &  oil  generation  and  adoption  of extended producer responsibility for the sustainability of the waste management system.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 263 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-19
Subject: Drone based Agricultural Technology
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: PONNUSAMY VENUGOPAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 263

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19/07/2016

## DRONE BASED AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY

263. DR. P. VENUGOPAL:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f"k ,oa fdlku dY;k.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is developing drone based technologies  in  farming  sector  for  assessing  the  quality  of  soil  as  well  as  crop  losses  after floods;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the use of drones will facilitate immediate assessment of damage to crops and immediate release of compensation to the farmers including crop insurance; and
- (d) if  so,  the  details  thereof and the manner in which these drone based technologies are likely to be fruitful for the farming sector?

## A N S W E R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f'k ,oa fdlku dY;k.k ea=ky; esa jkT; ea=h

## (SHRI SUDARSHAN BHAGAT)

- (a) Yes, Madam.
- (b) The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) through the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) has formulated a collaborative research project entitled 'SENSAGRI: SENsor based Smart AGRIculture' involving six partner Institutes (Agriculture & IT) to  be  funded  by  Information  Technology  Research  Academy  (ITRA),  Department  of Electronics and Information Technology (DEITY), Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MCIT), Govt. of India and ICAR.  The major objective is to develop indigenous prototype for drone based crop and soil health monitoring system using hyperspectral remote sensing (HRS) sensors.  This technology could also be integrated with satellite-based technologies for large scale applications.
- (c) Yes, Madam.
- (d) Drone  technology  based  unmanned  aerial  vehicle  (UAV)  has  ability  for  smooth scouting over farm fields, gathering precise information and transmitting the data on real time basis.  This capability could be used for the benefit of farming sector at regional/local scale for assessing land and  crop  health; extent, type and  severity  of  damage  besides  issuing forewarning,  post-event  management  and  settlement  of  compensation  under  crop  insurance schemes.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 261 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-19
Subject: Zero Import of Urea
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: KIRTI (JHA) AZAD, MANOJ RAJORIA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF FERTILIZERS

## LOK  SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 261 TO BE ANSWERED ON : 19.07.2016

## Zero Import of Urea

261:    SHRI KIRTI AZAD:

DR. MANOJ RAJORIA:

Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  highest  ever  production  of  fertilizers  has  been  registered  in  the country during the year 2015-16 and the target of 'Zero Import' of urea has been set up for the next few years;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, fertilizer-wise ; and
- (c) the  details  of  actual  annual  requirement,  actual  annual  production  and  the quantum of fertilizers imported every year to meet the requirement of fertilizers in the country during the last three years?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  CHEMICALS  &  FERTILIZERS, SHIPPING, ROAD TRANSPORT & HIGHWAYS

(SHRI  MANSUKH L MANDAVIYA)

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

(a)&(b): Department  of  Fertilizers  is  mandated  to  provide  all  subsidized  chemical fertilizers  to  the  States/UTs  as  per  requirement  projected  by  the  Department  of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW) in consultation with States. In order to meet the gap between domestic demand and indigenous production urea is imported.  In  the  year  2015-16,  domestic  production  of  urea  was  the  highest  ever. Import is going to reduce gradually as production of urea increases.

- (c):        The  details  of    annual  requirement/demand,  production  and  import  of  major fertilizers during  the last three years are given below:-

(Figure. in LMT)

| Name of the Product   | Requirement/Production /Import   |   2013-14 |   2014-15 |   2015-16 |
|-----------------------|----------------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Urea                  | Requirement/Demand               |    316.9  |    306.71 |    313.35 |
| Urea                  | Production                       |    227.15 |    225.85 |    244.75 |
| Urea                  | Import                           |     70.88 |     87.49 |     84.74 |
| DAP                   | Requirement/Demand               |    109.86 |     95.94 |    102.34 |
| DAP                   | Production                       |     36.11 |     34.44 |     37.87 |
| DAP                   | Import                           |     32.61 |     38.53 |     60.08 |
| NPK                   | Requirement/Demand               |    107.36 |     99.81 |    105.89 |
| NPK                   | Production                       |     69.13 |     78.32 |     83.01 |
| NPK                   | Import                           |      3.62 |      2.91 |      6.29 |
| MOP                   | Requirement/Demand               |     35.13 |     30.26 |     36.08 |
| MOP                   | Import                           |     31.8  |     41.97 |     32.43 |

*********
Lok Sabha Question No. 259 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-19
Subject: Animal-Man Conflict
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: RAMACHANDRAN MULLAPPALLY

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 259

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.07.2016

## Animal-Man Conflict

## 259.     SHRI MULLAPPALLY RAMACHANDRAN:

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

- (a)   whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  study  on  animal-man  conflicts  in  various parts of the country;
- (b)   if so, the details and outcome thereof, State-wise;
- (c) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  formulate  any  National  Policy  to  control  and prevent such conflicts in the country; and
- (d)  if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE)

- (a)& (b) Central  Government  and  State  Governments  undertake  studies  on  various aspects of human- wildlife conflict; one among them is the study conducted by  Wildlife  Institute  of  India  on  'Management  of  Blue  Bull  ( Boselaphus tragocamelus ) in Human and Agriculture Dominated Landscape: Challenges and Options for Mitigation'. Following conclusions have been made:
- i. A designated team drawn from Agriculture, Revenue and Forest Department  should  be  empowered,  trained  and  equipped  for killing  the  problem  animals  as  per  the  order  issued  by  the  state governments under Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
- ii. Option of fertility control in selected areas .
- iii. Removal of part of population to suitable alternative habitat with predator control.
- (c)& (d) Based  on  various  studies,  workshops  and  meeting,  Ministry  has  issued various  advisories  in  the  context  of  human-wildlife  conflict  and  priority actions for management of Human Wildlife Conflict on 24 th December, 2014 and 1 st June, 2015 respectively.

The  National  Wildlife  Action  Plan(2002-2016)    has  given  emphasis  to formulate    schemes  for  conflict  management,  specially  prevention  and control of crop/property damage and injury to or loss of human life.  There are ongoing centrally sponsored schemes under which financial assistance is provided to State  Governments for  ex-gratia compensation, augmentation of fodder and water, fencing etc.
Lok Sabha Question No. 257 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-19
Subject: Expansion of Fertilizer Units
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: ASHOK MAHADEORAO NETE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF FERTILIZERS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 257 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.07.2016

## Expansion of fertilizer units

## 257 SHRI ASHOK MAHADEORAO NETE:

Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken any steps for expansion of some fertilizer units, if so, the details thereof and the names of places identified for the said purpose;
- (b) the  details  of  funds  provided  for  this  purpose  during  the  current  five  year  plan,  Statewise; and
- (c) the details of funds utilized during the said period, State-wise?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS, SHIPPING, ROAD TRANSPSORT & HIGHWAYS

(SHRI MANSUKH L MANDAVIYA)

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

- (a): The  Government  had  notified  New  Investment  Policy  (NIP)  -  2012  on  02 nd January, 2013 and its amendment on 07 th October, 2014 to facilitate fresh investment in urea sector and to reduce import dependency.  Under the said policy, at present, there are following 5 proposals for setting up of Brownfield (Expansion) projects with the Department of Fertilizers:-
- (b): As per the said policy, there is no provision to provide funds to the projects.
- (c): In view of (b) above, question does not arise.

|   S. No. | Company                                                                 | Projects                                                  | Ownership   | State          |
|----------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|-------------|----------------|
|        1 | Indo-Gulf Fertilizers Limited-Jagdishpur                                | Brownfield Expansion urea project at Jagdishpur.          | Private     | Uttar Pradesh  |
|        2 | Chambal Fertilizers & Chemicals Limited- Gadepan                        | Brownfield of Ammonia-Urea units at Gadepan- Kota.        | Private     | Rajasthan      |
|        3 | Matix Fertilizers & Chemicals Limited, Train- II, Panagarh, West Bengal | Brownfiled Ammonia-Urpea Fertilizers Complex at Panagarh. | Private     | West Bengal    |
|        4 | Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers Limited-Thal                          | Brownfield Ammonia-Urea Expansion project at Thal.        | CPSU        | Maharashtra    |
|        5 | Nagarjuna Fertilizers & Chemicals Ltd.                                  | Brownfield Project at Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh.           | Private     | Andhra Pradesh |

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 256 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-19
Subject: Environmental Clearance for Universities
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: B.V. NAYAK

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 256

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.07.2016

## Environmental Clearance for Universities

## 256. SHRI B.V. NAIK:

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

- (a) whether the Government has exempted builders from obtaining green nod for constructing educational universities and if so, the reasons therefor; and
- (b) whether the exemption from obtaining prior environmental clearance is subject to certain conditions and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE)

- (a) & (b) Yes,  Sir.    Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  amended  EIA Notification  2006  vide  Notification  S.O.  No.  3252(E)  dated  22.12.2014  providing exemption to the construction of schools, colleges, hostels for educational institutions from  the  requirement  of  obtaining  prior  Environmental  Clearance  with  a  view  to strengthen  the  educational  infrastructure  of  the  country.    Subsequently,  a  Office Memorandum was issued on 9 th  June, 2016 clarifying that this exemption is also for building  of  educational  institutions  including  universities,  subject  to  sustainable environmental management. In case of medical universities/ institutes, the component of hospitals will require prior Environmental Clearance.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 255 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-19
Subject: Cutting down Subsidy on Urea
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: SUKENDER REDDY GUTHA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF FERTILIZERS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  255

TO BE ANSWERED ON :

19.07.2016

## Cutting down subsidy on urea

## 255 SHRI GUTHA SUKENDER REDDY:

Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is planning to increase the prices of urea in the country, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether in view of the present trend the Government is contemplating on cutting down the subsidies on urea and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the details of the steps being taken by the Government to maintain stability in the prices of urea?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS, SHIPPING, ROAD TRANSPSORT & HIGHWAYS

## (SHRI MANSUKH L  MANDAVIYA)

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

- (a): No, Madam.  At present, there is no proposal to increase the prices of urea.
- (b): The  difference  between  the  delivered  cost  of  fertilizers  at  farm  gate  and  net  market realization  by  the  urea  units  is  given  as  subsidy  to  the  urea  manufacturer/importer  by  the Government of India.

The Government has announced New Urea Policy-2015 on 25 th May, 2015 for existing 25  gas  based  urea  units  with  the  objectives  of  maximizing  indigenous  urea  production; promoting  energy  efficiency  in  the  urea  units;  and  to  reduce  the  subsidy  burden  on  the Government.

- (c): The Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of urea is statutorily controlled by the Government.  At present,  it  is  Rs.  5360  per  MT  (exclusive  of  1%  central  excise  duty,  central  sales  tax, countervailing duty, the sales tax and other local taxes wherever levied) w.e.f. 01 st November, 2012.    Further,  an  extra  MRP  of  5%  (of  Rs.  5360/-  per  MT)  is  charged  by  the  fertilizer manufacturing entities on Neem Coated Urea.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 253 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-19
Subject: Paris Agreement
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: POONAMBEN HEMATBHAI MAADAM

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.253

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.07.2016

## Paris Agreement

## 253. SHRIMATI POONAMBEN MAADAM:

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

- (a)   the intended time-frame for India's ratification of the Paris Agreement;
- (b) whether the Government has made the ratification of the Paris Agreement contingent upon the outcome of India's intended challenge to the WTO Dispute Settlement Ruling which held the Government's international power purchase agreements with solar firms as inconsistent with international trading norms;
- (c)  the details of steps being taken by the signatories to the Paris Agreement to facilitate  the  ratification  of  the  second  commitment  period  of  the  Kyoto  Protocol  (20132020); and
- (d) the areas within India's Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC)  that  would  be  contingent  on  the  mobilization  of  climate  finance  by  developed countries?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE)

- (a) The Paris Agreement enters into force on the 30th day after the date on which at least 55 Parties to the Convention accounting in total for at least an estimated 55 % of the total  global  Greenhouse  Gas  (GHG)  emissions  have  deposited  their  instruments  of ratification,  acceptance,  approval  or  accession  with  the  Depositary  to  the  United Nations. As such there is no specific timeframe for ratification of the Paris Agreement.
- (b) Government has not made the ratification of the Paris Agreement contingent upon the outcome of India's intended challenge to the WTO Dispute Settlement Ruling which held  the  Government's  international  power  purchase  agreements  with  solar  firms  as inconsistent with international trading norms.
- (c) As  on  date  only  65  countries  out  of  the  192  countries  that  are  parties  to  the  Kyoto Protocol  have ratified the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol (20132020) and 19 countries of the 178 signatories to the Paris Agreement have ratified the Paris Agreement, accounting for 0.18% of global GHG emissions.
- (d) India is committed to implement Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) as per the specific sectoral policies and programme  formulated in course of developmental plans of the Government.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 252 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-19
Subject: Procurement of Pulses from Abroad
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: GEETHA KOTHAPALLI

## Government of India Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution

## Department of Consumer Affairs

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 252

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.7.2016

## PROCUREMENT OF PULSES FROM ABROAD

## 252. SHRIMATI KOTHAPALLI GEETHA :

## Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  mulling  any  proposal  to  procure  pulses  from  abroad  to meet the deficit in the country; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof indicating the production, demand and procurement of pulses from abroad during the ensuing year?

## ANSWER

## miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h ¼Jh jke foykl ikloku½

## THE MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI RAM VILAS PASWAN)

(a) & (b) : Yes, Madam. The production of pulses varies in the range of 17-19.5 million tonnes while demand for 2016-17 is estimated at 24.61 million tones. The deficit in domestic supply  is  met through  imports primarily under private trade. However, in the ensuing year, Government will also import pulses, the quantum of which will depend upon the availability and prices of pulses; both domestic and global.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 251 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-19
Subject: Burning of Wastes
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: SHOBHA KARANDLAJE

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.251

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.07.2016

## Burning of Wastes

## 251. KUMARI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE:

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

- (a) whether the number of incidents of burning dry leaves, trash and rubbish are on the rise in metropolitan cities and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  robust  garbage  disposal  system  is  in  place  in  cities  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (c) whether the guidelines issued by the National Green Tribunal in April, 2015 banning burning of wastes are not being followed properly and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether monitoring system is strictly adhered to and periodic review made in view of WHO  ranking  Delhi  as  the  world's  worst  city  for  air  pollution  and  if  so,  the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE)

(a)  The  Central  Pollution  Control  Board  (CPCB)  has  established  'Control  Room'  on  29 th December  2015  to  receive  complaints  on  burning  dry  leaves,  trash  and  rubbish  and forwarding to concerned agencies for necessary action. Accordingly, 141 complaints on the issue  have  been  received  and  forwarded  to  respective  agencies  for  action  till  date.  Out  of which 31 complaints were resolved. Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has reported that there is decrease in the incidents of burning of dry leaves, trash and rubbish in Delhi.

(b)  As  per  the  reports  of  State  Pollution  Control  Boards  (SPCBs)  /  Pollution  Control Committees around 1, 40,859 tonnes/day of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) generated in the country. Out of which 1, 27,531 tonnes/day (91%) is collected and 34,434 tonnes/day (27%) is  treated.  The  data  indicates  that  MSW  management  system  in  many  cities  /  towns  is  not adequate.

- (c) No, Sir.

(d) A report  was  bought  out  by  the  World  Health  Organisation  in  May,  2016  ranking some cities  of  India  including  Delhi  among  top  20  most  polluted  cities  of  the  world  with respect to levels of particulate matter which is based on extrapolated and estimated values. The  said  ranking  of  cities  is,  therefore,  not  appropriate.  The  ambient  air  quality  is  being regularly monitored with manual and continuous air quality monitoring systems in National Capital  Region  (NCR)  including  Delhi  by  the  CPCB  in  association  with  SPCBs  of  NCR States,  DPCC,  National  Environmental  Engineering  Research  Institute  and  System  of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting & Research. Taking note of the gravity of air pollution in NCT of Delhi, a series of measures have been taken including regular review meetings at official and ministerial level with NCR States and NCT of Delhi.