(a) whether India ranks 123rd in pollution control and Natural Resources Management, whereas Britain, Germany and Japan are holding the 14th, 17th and 20th positioin respectively;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;
(c) whether three species of fauna are becoming extinct every hour due to pollution; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government to improve Pollution Control and Natural Resource Management, so far?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)
(a) & (b) In 2010, the World Economic Forum ranked 163 countries on their performance across 25 metrics aggregated into ten categories including environmental health, air quality, water resource management, biodiversity and habitat, forestry, fisheries, agriculture, and climate change. As per the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) of World Economic Forum, India was ranked at 123rd position. China, Brazil and Russia were ranked at 121st, 62nd and 69th position respectively. Britain, Germany, Japan and USA were ranked 14, 17, 20 and 61 respectively. The report relied on data gathered by NASA Satellite in place of actual monitored data. The report has not been peer reviewed. Therefore, the EPI ranking has its limitations.
(c) The extinction of flora and fauna is a continuous process and several factors are responsible for extinction of species which inter-alia include loss of habitats, climate change, national resource degradation, pollution etc.
(d) The steps taken by the Government to improve Pollution Control inter-alia include;
• Notification of National Ambient Air Quality Standards (2009), envisaging 12 pollutants;
• Formulation of environmental regulations / statutes;
• Setting up of monitoring network for assessment of ambient air quality;
• Introduction of cleaner / alternate fuels like gaseous fuel (CNG, LPG), ethanol blend etc.;
• Promotion of public transport network of metro, buses, e-rickshaws etc.;
• Promotion of cleaner production processes;
Taking note of the gravity of air pollution, the Government has taken some more measures which include:
• Launching of Clean India Mission (Swatch Bharat Abhiyan);
• Amending rules for handling and management of municipal wastes including construction and demolition waste rules notified for comments of stakeholders;
• Launching of National Air Quality index by the Prime Minister in April, 2015 starting with 14 cities and now implemented in 22 cities;
• Implementing Bharat Stage IV norms in the 63 selected cities and universalization of BS-IV by 2017;
• Notifying advancement directly from BS-IV to BS- VI standards and BS-IV compliant fuel to be implemented in the country w.e.f. 01.04.2020 by Ministry of Road Transport and Highways;
• Holding regular co-ordination meetings at official and ministerial level with Delhi and other State Governments within the National Capital Region (NCR) and Punjab;
• Formulating and notifying stringent industrial standards for public/stakeholder’s comments which include standards for thermal power plants and sugar industry;
• Giving high priority for public partnership in lane discipline, car pooling, vehicle maintenance, pollution under control certification, action against visibly polluting vehicles etc.;
• Installation of on-line continuous (24x7) monitoring devices by major industries;
In addition, Government has also taken various measures to improve tree / forest cover. As per India State of Forest Report-2015, the forest cover and tree cover of the country has increased by 3775 square kilometres and 1306 square kilometre respectively as compared to 2013 assessment. To increase the percentage of land under forests in the country, afforestation programmes are taken up under various schemes such as National Afforestation Programme, Green India Mission, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, Integrated Watershed Management Programme (which from 2015-16 has been amalgamated as the Watershed Development Component of the “Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana”), National Bamboo Mission, Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), State Plan/ Non-Plan Schemes and Externally Aided Projects.
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