Lok Sabha Question No. 843 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-01
Subject: Pollution Ranking
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: GOPAL CHINAYYA SHETTY

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION N0. 843

TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.03.2016

## Pollution Ranking

## 843. SHRI GOPAL SHETTY:

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

- (a)   whether India ranks 123rd in pollution control and Natural Resources Management, whereas Britain, Germany and Japan are holding the 14th, 17th and 20th positioin respectively;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (c) whether three species of fauna are becoming extinct every hour due to pollution; and
- (d)   if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government to improve Pollution Control and Natural Resource Management, so far?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI   PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

- (a) & (b) In 2010, the World Economic Forum ranked 163 countries on their performance across  25  metrics  aggregated  into  ten  categories  including  environmental  health,  air  quality, water resource management, biodiversity and habitat, forestry, fisheries, agriculture, and climate change. As per the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) of World Economic Forum, India was  ranked  at  123 rd position.    China,  Brazil  and  Russia  were  ranked  at  121 st ,  62 nd and  69 th position  respectively.    Britain,  Germany,  Japan  and  USA  were  ranked  14,  17,  20  and  61 respectively.  The report relied on data gathered by NASA Satellite in place of actual monitored data.  The report has not been peer reviewed. Therefore, the EPI ranking has its limitations.
- (c) The  extinction  of  flora  and  fauna  is  a  continuous  process  and  several  factors  are responsible  for  extinction  of  species  which inter-alia include  loss  of  habitats,  climate  change, national resource degradation, pollution etc.
- (d) The steps taken by the Government to improve Pollution Control inter-alia include;
- Notification of National Ambient Air Quality Standards (2009), envisaging 12 pollutants;
- Formulation of environmental regulations / statutes;
- Setting up of monitoring network for assessment of ambient air quality;
- Introduction of cleaner / alternate fuels like gaseous fuel (CNG, LPG), ethanol blend etc.;
- Promotion of public transport network of metro, buses, e-rickshaws etc.;
- Promotion of cleaner production processes;

Taking note of the gravity of air pollution, the Government has taken some more measures which include:

- Launching of  Clean India Mission (Swatch Bharat Abhiyan);
- Amending rules for handling and management of municipal wastes including construction and demolition waste rules notified for comments of stakeholders;
- Launching of National Air Quality index by the Prime Minister in April, 2015 starting with 14 cities and now implemented in 22 cities;
- Implementing Bharat Stage IV norms in the 63 selected cities and universalization of BSIV  by 2017;
- Notifying advancement directly from BS-IV to BS- VI standards and BS-IV compliant fuel to be implemented in the country w.e.f. 01.04.2020 by Ministry of Road Transport and Highways;
- Holding regular co-ordination  meetings at official and  ministerial  level  with  Delhi  and other State Governments within the National Capital Region (NCR) and Punjab;
- Formulating and notifying stringent industrial standards for public/stakeholder's comments which include standards for thermal power plants and sugar industry;
- Giving  high  priority  for  public  partnership  in  lane  discipline,  car  pooling,  vehicle maintenance,  pollution under  control certification, action against visibly polluting vehicles etc.;
- Installation of on-line continuous (24x7) monitoring devices by major industries;

In addition, Government has also taken various measures to improve tree / forest cover.  As per India State of Forest Report-2015, the forest cover and tree cover of the country has increased by 3775 square kilometres and 1306 square kilometre respectively as compared to 2013 assessment. To increase the percentage of  land  under  forests  in  the  country,  afforestation  programmes  are taken  up  under  various  schemes  such  as  National  Afforestation  Programme,  Green  India Mission, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, Integrated Watershed  Management  Programme  (which  from  2015-16  has  been  amalgamated  as  the Watershed  Development  Component  of  the  'Pradhan  Mantri  Krishi  Sinchayee  Yojana'), National  Bamboo  Mission,  Compensatory  Afforestation  Fund  Management  and  Planning Authority (CAMPA), State Plan/ Non-Plan Schemes and Externally Aided Projects.

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