Question : POLLUTION CONTROL PLANS FOR POLLUTED CITIES

(a) whether the Government have asked the States to furnish a comprehensive action plan to contain pollution in the polluted cities of the country as reported in the Times of India dated July10, 2002;

(b) if so, the details indicating the names of the cities identified for the purpose, State/Union Territory-wise;

(c) whether the Government have also asked the States for compulsory switch over of two-wheelers, three-wheelers and other vehicles to LPG or CNG mode and for making necessary arrangements for the setting up of adequate number of CNG/LPG filling stations in highly polluted cities;

(d) if so, the details alongwith the response of the State Governments thereto; and

(e) the funds to be provided for the purpose, State/Union Territory-wise?

THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI T.R. BAALU)

(a),(b),(c),(d) & (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a), (b), (c),(d) &(e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.308 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5.8.2002 REGARDING POLLUTION CONTROL PLANS FOR POLLUTED CITIES BY DR. RAMESH CHAND TOMAR AND SHRI SANAT KUMAR MANDAL:

(a) & (b) A two-day Conference of State Environment Secretaries and Chairpersons of Pollution Control Boards/Committees was held on 8th and 9th July, 2002 to discuss various issues relating to pollution control including formulation and implementation of action plans for control of air pollution in identified cities. State Pollution Control Boards have been asked to prepare action plans in a time bound manner for cities of Agra, Lucknow, Kanpur and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, Faridabad in Haryana, Jharia in Jharkand, Patna in Bihar, Jodhpur in Rajasthan and Pune in Maharastra where the air quality is critical.

(c), (d) & (e) The Government have also asked the States of Gujarat, Maharastra, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal to prepare comprehensive action plans to control air pollution in Ahmedabad, Pune, Kanpur and Kolkata cities respectively for switchover of vehicles to LPG or CNG mode keeping in view the orders of Supreme Court. The four State Governments have taken steps for preparation of action plans in a time bound manner. There is no proposal to fund these action plans by the Central Government.