(a) whether the Union Government provides funds to control all types of
pollution including environmental pollution in the country ;
(b) If so, whether environmental pollution has not decreased commensurate
with the funds spent in this regard ;
(c)if so, the reasons attributed thereto; and
(d) the details of action plan chalked out to check increasing pollution ?
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI A. RAJA)
(a), (b), (c) & (d) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED IN REPLY TO PART (a), (b), (c) & (d) OF THE LOK
SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.164 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.12.2005
REGARDING POLLUTION CONTROL MEASURES BY SHRI SARBANANDA
SONOWAL.
(a) The Union Government provides financial assistance under ihe following scheme
for controlling Environmental pollution:
i)Abatement of pollution in rivers and lakes;
ii)Establishment of Common Effluent Treatment Plants;
iii)Construction for infrastructure facilities for treatment storage and
disposal of Solid and Hazardous Waste;
iv)Monitoring for compliance of Environmental Standards;
v)Assistance for Abatement of Pollution;
vi)Grant-in-aid.to Central Pollution Control Board
(b)&(c) Due to various abatement and enforcement measures taken, there has been
improvement in environmental quality as determined by monitoring independent
scientific and technical institutions. In this connection, as regards pollution
abatement in rivers, analysis carried out by the Harvard institute of International
Development has observed that in terms of both time and cost involved, the Ganga
Action Plan-1 compares favourably with those of major rivers of the world. Similarly,
the air quality in all metro cities have shown improvement as a result of various
abatement measures undertaken. Monitored data indicate that Sulphur Dioxide and
Oxides of Nitrogen which are key air pollutants are currently within notified standards.
(d) The steps initiated to abate pollution include:
i.Notification and enforcement of emissions and effluent
standards for various industries/activities;
ii. Regular monitoring of environmental quality;
iii. Issuance of notices/directions to uon-complying units;
iv. Action plans for improvement of air quality in identifi d
polluted cities; and
v. Implementation of Charter on Corporate Responsibility tor Environmental
Protection (CREP) for 17 categories of polluting industries.