(a) whether the persons are dying due to air pollution in metropolitan cities of the country;
(b) if so, the number of deaths occurred in each of metropolitan cities during the last three years, metropolitan cities-wise; and
(c) the efforts made by the Government to avoid such deaths and prevent diseases being caused by the air pollution ?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS
(SHRI BABU LAL MARANDI)
(a) & (b) The World Bank has estimated that about 40,000 premature deaths in 36 Indian cities have occurred in 1995 due to air pollution. However, there is no conclusive data available to confirm these figures. No mortality data attributable to air pollution is available.
(c) The efforts made by the Government to curb and control air pollution include the following:
(1) The Government has formulated a comprehensive Policy Statement for Abatement of Pollution, which lays stress on prevention and control aspects of pollution.
(2) The ambient air quality of various cities and towns is monitored regularly through a network of 290 monitoring stations under the National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Programme.
(3) Ambient air quality standards and emission standards for industrial units have been notified.
(4) Emissions from highly polluting industrial units and thermal power plants are regularly monitored and action is taken against the defaulting units.
(5) Environment action plans for reducing pollution in Delhi and Mumbai have been prepared by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, which are under implementation.
(6) Low lead petrol had been introduced in the four metro cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta and Chennai with effect from June 1994. Subsequently, unleaded petrol for catalytic converter fitted vehicles was introduced in the above mentioned cities with effect from 1.4.1995. Unleaded petrol is now being supplied to the entire country with effect from 1.2.2000. Sulphur is being progressively reduced in diesel. Fuel quality standards for petrol and diesel have been notified.
(7) Gross emission standards for on-road vehicles and mass emission standards for all categories of new vehicles have been notified under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.
(8) Fiscal incentives are provided for installation of pollution control equipment.