Lok Sabha Question No. 3785 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-22
Subject: Pollution Impact on Historical Monuments
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: AJAY NISHAD

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3785

TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.12.2015

Pollution Impact on Historical Monuments

## 3785. SHRI AJAY NISHAD:

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

- (a) whether  the  historical  monuments  are  being  adversely  affected  due  to  increase  in pollution level in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  check  the  adverse  effect  of  pollution  on historical monuments and in the surroundings of historical sites?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a)  to  (c)The  Central  Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is monitoring ambient air quality in 254 cities / townsin the country including three locations namelyTajMahal, Itmad-ud-daulah and  Rambagh.    Many  of  the  historical  monuments  are  located  in  these  254  cities  / towns.However,  no  specific  study  on  the  impact  of  the  pollutant  on  monuments  has  been done by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change / CPCB.

The  Government  of  India  was  taken  several  steps  to  check  the  adverse  effect  of pollution to minimize the impact of air pollution include:

- Notification  of  National  Ambient  Air  Quality  Standards  (2009),  envisaging  12 pollutants;
- Formulation of regulations / statutes;
- Introduction  of  cleaner  /  alternate  fuels  like  gaseous  fuel  (CNG,  LPG),  ethanol blend etc. replacing petrol and diesel;
- Setting up of monitoring network for assessment of ambient air quality;
- Promotion of public transport network of Metro, Buses, E-rickshows etc.;
- Setting up Taj Trapezium Zone Authority to protect the Taj from pollution.
- Promotion of cleaner production processes;

Taking  note  of  the  gravity  of  air  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;
- Ministry  of  Road  Transport  and  Highwayson    27.11.2015  issued  two  Draft Notifications issued for advancing the implementation time lines to 2019 for BSV and 2021 for BS- VI for comments of stakeholders;
- Banning of burning of leaves, biomass, municipal solid waste in Delhi;
- Government  is  giving  high  priority  for  public  partnership  in  lane  discipline, carpooling,  vehicle  maintenance,  pollution  under  control  certification,  action against visibly polluting vehicles etc.;
- Levying environment compensation charge on goods vehicles entering Delhi;
- 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;
- Directions  under  section  18(1)  (b)  of  The  Air  (Prevention  and  Control  of Pollution) Act, 1981 being issued to enforcing agencies.
- Construction of peripheral eastern and western expressways around Delhi to divert non-destined vehicles.

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