Lok Sabha Question No. 404 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-01
Subject: Air Pollution
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: SANJAY SHAMRAO DHOTRE, K. MARAGATHAM, BHAGWANTH KHUBA, HARISH CHANDRA MEENA, BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB, P.R. SUNDARAM, SHASHI THAROOR, GEETHA KOTHAPALLI

404:

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.404

TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.12.2015

## Air Pollution

SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE:

SHRIMATI K. MARAGATHAM:

SHRI BHAGWANTH KHUBA:

SHRI HARISH MEENA:

SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB:

SHRI P.R. SUNDARAM:

DR. SHASHI THAROOR:

SHRIMATI KOTHAPALLI GEETHA:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware of any study report including the one brought out by the World Bank regarding polluted cities in the world;
- (b) if so, the details and findings in respect of cities in the country;
- (c) whether there are also reports indicating large number of premature deaths annually due to air pollution in metro cities, particularly in Delhi and Kolkata;
- (d) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  reaction  of  the  Government  thereto  along  with  the number of deaths due to air pollution in the country annually; and
- (e) the concrete measures taken by the Government for checking air pollution including developing infrastructure for clean energy and conducting of study on the extent and ill-effects of air pollution on health along with the success achieved so far as a result of the said measures?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a)&(b) A report entitled 'The Little Green Data Book, 2015'envisaging development and the  environment  using  more  than  50  indicators  for  more  than  200  countries  has  been brought out by World Bank. Studies are published on different thematic areas in  various journals from time to time which represents the views of authors. The key pollutant which exceeds the permissible values relates to Particulate Matter. Other pollutants like Sulphur dioxide(SO2)and Nitrogen dioxide(NO2) are generally below the permissible limit in cities in India. The high value of Particulate Matter (PM) in Delhi is contributed by geo-climatic conditions, road dust, vehicular emission, construction activity, burning of biomass etc.

(c) &(d) Central Pollution Control Board has not conducted any study relating to mortality due  to  air  pollution.  However,  to  assess  the  long  term  impact  of  air  pollution  on  human health,Central Pollution Control Board had sponsored two epidemiological studies in Delhi (1

for adult and 1 for children) which were conducted by Chittranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata during 2002-2005 and 2007-2012. There is no conclusive evidence to say that air pollution  has  led  to  loss  of  lives.  However,  air  pollution  is  known  to  be  one  of  the aggravating factors for many respiratory ailments and cardiovascular diseases.

(e)  To  minimize  the  impact  of  environmental  pollution  particularly  air  pollution,  the Government has inter alia taken the following actions:

- Notification  of  National  Ambient  Air  Quality  Standards  2009,  envisaging  12 pollutants;
- Formulation of regulations/statutes;
- Introduction of cleaner/alternate fuel like CNG, LPG etc. and promotion of public transport network including Metro;
- Setting up of monitoring network for assessment of ambient air quality;
- Creation  of  infrastructure  for  industrial  pollution  control  incorporating  cleaner production processes, setting up of common pollution control facilities;

Realizing the gravity of pollution, further steps taken by the Government to address pollution, include the following:

- Launching of Clean India Mission (Swatch Bharat Abhiyan);
- Draft Rules for handing and management of municipal waste have been notified for comments of stakeholders;
- Standards  for  sewage  treatment  plants  have  been  notified  for  comments  of stakeholders;
- Implementation  of  Bharat  Stage  IV  norms  expanded  to  63  selected  cities  and Bharat Stage III norms in rest of the country;
- National  Air  Quality  index  was  launched  by  the  Prime  Minister  in  April,  2015 starting with 10 cities;
- Banning of burning of leaves/ biomass;
- Relevant  draft  rules,  including  those  pertaining  to  construction  and  demolition waste have been notified;
- Regular co-ordination meetings have been held at ministerial and other levels with Delhi and other State Governments within the National Capital Region (NCR) on 6 th April,  13 th April,  24 th July, 2015 and  6 th November,2015  to control environmental pollution in NCR;
- Short-term plan has been reviewed  and long-term plans have been formulated to mitigate pollution in NCR;
- Stringent industrial standards have been formulated and notified for public/stakeholder's comments and standard  for sugar industry, Thermal Power Plant and CETPs have been finalized;
- Government is giving high priority for public partnership in lane discipline, car pooling, vehicle maintenance, pollution under control certification etc.
- Out of  3386  major  industries,  1782  industries  have  installed  on-line  continuous (24X7) monitoring devices.

But  for  the  aforesaid  measures,  the  levels  of  pollution  with  respect  to  key  pollutants would have been higher.

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