MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI T.R. BAALU)
(a) & (b) : A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) & (b) OF THE LOK
SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 311 FOR REPLY ON 14TH AUGUST,
2000 REGARDING âENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGEâ.
(a) & (b): No, Sir. The Government have not worked out the
estimated cost of environmental damage in the country.
However, the cost of environmental degradation have been
estimated by the World Bank and the Tata Energy Research
Institute. According to the World Bank, the estimated cost
of environmental degradation for the year 1991-92 adds up to
4.8% of GDP.
According to the Tata Energy Research Institute, the
economic values of environmental degradation and depletion
of natural resources in 1997 are as follows:-
Problem Annual Economic Value (Rs.billion)
Poor quality of drinking 122 water and its effect on human health
Loss of crop productivity due 89-232 to soil degradation
Loss of wood due to forest 57 degradation
Air pollution and its impact 885-4250 on human health