Lok Sabha Question No. 2601 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-10
Subject: Impact of Pollution on Historical Monuments
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: AJAY NISHAD, ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN, VIJAY KUMAR S.R.

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2601

TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.05.2016

## Impact of Pollution on Historical Monuments

2601. SHRI  AJAY NISHAD:

SHRI ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN:

SHRI S.R. VIJAYAKUMAR:

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

- (a) whether the Government's attention is drawn towards monuments adversely affected by contaminated air and pollutants, particularly those built in white marble or limestone;
- (b) if so, whether the Government has conducted any survey/study of the monuments which are severely affected by pollution and if so, the details and outcome thereof;
- (c) the details of monuments which have been revived so far including Red Fort;
- (d) the  details  of  monuments  in  respect  of  which  the  damage  caused  by  pollution  is  not reversible; and
- (e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to protect the monuments in the country from damages caused by pollution?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

- (a) Yes Sir.

(b)  to  (e)  The  Archaeological  Survey  of  India  (ASI)  and  Central  Pollution  Control  Board (CPCB) are continuously monitoring ambient air quality in 254 cities / towns in the country including vulnerable monuments. The climatic conditions around the monuments also play a very  important  role  in  dispersal  of  pollutants  as  well  as  on  the  impact  of  pollutants  on monuments like Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Humayuns Tomb etc. The conditions of monuments is constantly  assessed  and  reviewed.  Regular  scientific  cleaning  and  other  treatments  to  such monuments are also given for removal of harmful deposits and improve the look aesthetically. By  such  actions,  adverse  effects  on  the  monuments  are  minimized.  ASI  is  constantly monitoring  the  situation  and  applying  the  remedial  measures  regularly.  No  specific  nation wide study has been done to assess the impact of the pollutants 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  effects  of pollution to minimize the impact of air pollution include:

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

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

- Launched  Clean  India  Mission  (Swatch  Bharat  Abhiyan)  on  2 nd October, 2014;
- Launched National Air Quality index by the Prime Minister in April, 2015;
- Implementation of Bharat Stage IV (BS IV) norms in 63 selected cities and universalization of BS IV by 2017;
- Decision  taken  to  leapfrog  directly  from  Bharat  Stage  IV  to  BS-IV  fuel standards by 1 st April, 2020;

·

Taxing polluting vehicles and incentivizing hybrid and electric vehicles.

- Comprehensive amendments to various Waste Management Rules including Municipal Solid Waste, Plastic Waste, Hazardous Waste, Bio-medical Waste and Electronic Waste notified;
- Notification of Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules.

Ban on burning of leaves, biomass, municipal solid waste;

- Levying environment compensation charge on goods vehicles entering Delhi;

·

- Promotion  of  public  transport  network  of  metro,  buses,  e-rickshaws  and promotion of car polling, lane discipline and vehicle maintenance;
- Revision    of  existing  environmental  standards  and  formulation  of  new standards for prevention and control of pollution from industries;
- Issuance  of  directions  under  section  18(1)  (b)  of  The  Air  (Prevention  and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 to enforcing agencies.
- Installing on-line continuous (24x7) monitoring devices;

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