Lok Sabha Question No. 3697 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-22
Subject: Dust Settled on Trees
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: K.R.P. PRABAKARAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3697

TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.12.2015

## Dust Settled on Trees

## 3697. SHRI K.R.P. PRABAKARAN:

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

- (a) whether the dust settled on roads and trees is adversely affecting the health of human beings; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a)  The  main  sources  of  dust  (particulate  matter)  include  road  dust,  construction  activities, garbage  burning,  industries,  domestic  fuel  burning  etc.  This  particulate  matter  settles  down including on roads and trees. Air pollution, particularly the particulate matter, is known to be one of the aggravating factors for many respiratory ailments and cardiovascular diseases.

(b)  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 envisaging 12 pollutants;
- Setting up of monitoring network for assessment of ambient air quality;
- Formulation of regulations/statutes;
- Introduction of cleaner/alternate fuels like gaseous fuel (CNG, LPG, ethanol blend etc.) replacing petrol and diesel;
- Promotion of public transport network of Metro, Buses, E-rickshaws etc.;
- Promotion of  cleaner production processes;
- Creation of infrastructure for pollution control like STPs/CETPs/ZLD;

Taking note of the gravity of pollution, the Government has taken some more measures as listed below:

- Launching of Clean India Mission (Swatch Bharat Abhiyan) on 2 nd October, 2014;
- Formulation  of  draft  rules  for  handling  and  management  of  municipal  wastes including construction and demolition waste rules notified for  comments  of stakeholders;
- National Air Quality index launched by the Prime Minister in April, 2015 starting with 14 cities;
- Implementation of Bharat Stage IV norms in the 63 selected cities and universalization of BS-IV  by 2017;
- MoRTH on  27.11.2015  issued  two  Draft  Notifications  issued  for  advancing  the implementation time lines to 2019 for BS- V and 2021 for BS- VI for comments of stakeholders;
- Banning of burning of leaves, biomass, municipal solid waste in Delhi;
- Regular co-ordination meetings being held at official and ministerial level with Delhi and other State Governments within the National Capital Region (NCR) and Punjab;
- Levying environment compensation charge on goods vehicles entering Delhi;
- Short-term  plan  has  been  reviewed    and  long-term  plans  have  been  formulated  by states to mitigate pollution in NCR;
- Stringent industrial standards have been formulated and notified for public/stakeholder's comments; standards for sugar industry and CETPs have been finalized;
- Government  is  giving  high  priority  for  public  partnership  in  lane  discipline,  car pooling,  vehicle  maintenance,  pollution  under  control  certification,  action  against visibly polluting vehicles etc.;
- Out  of  3386  major  industries,  1782  industries  have  installed  on-line  continuous (24x7) monitoring devices; others are in process of installing;
- New standards for thermal power plants have been issued for gazette notification;

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