Question : Diseases due to Air Pollution

(a) whether the Government is aware of the report of the World Health Organization that air pollution is causing cardio-vascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and high cancers which accounts to 94 per cent of the premature deaths in the country and if so, the details thereof;
(b) the number of people died due to bad air/air pollution in India, for the past three years, State-wise;
(c) the prime reasons for air pollution in major Indian cities, including Bengaluru;
(d) the steps taken/will be taken to control/decrease the air pollution; and
(e) whether the Government is considering any special package to control air pollution in Bengaluru and Karnataka and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a) &(b)The World Health Organization (WHO), from time to time, has been publishing estimates of mortality/ morbidity attributable to environmental pollution. It has been reported inthe publication, ‘Burden of disease from the joint effects of household and ambient air pollution for 2016” that globally 7 million deaths were attributable to the joint effects of household air pollution(HAP) and ambient air pollution (AAP) in 2016. About 94% of these deaths occur in low and middle-income (LMI)countries. However, there are no conclusive data available in the country to establish direct correlation of death/disease exclusively due to air pollution. Air pollution is one of the triggering factors for respiratory ailments and associated diseases. Health effects of air pollution are synergistic manifestation of factors which include food habits, occupational habits, socioeconomic status, medical history, immunity, heredity, etc., of the individuals.

(c)The Source apportionment studies conducted in six major cities namely, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Pune and Kanpur to identify major sources and their contribution to pollution indicated road dust suspension, vehicles, garbage burning, construction, DG sets, industries, etc. to be the major sources of pollution in these cities.

(d) The Government has taken several steps to address air pollution, which inter alia include notification of National Ambient Air Quality Standards; revision of emission standards for industrial sectors from time to time; setting up of monitoring network for assessment of ambient air quality; introduction of cleaner / alternate fuels like gaseous fuel (CNG, LPG etc.), ethanol blending, launching of National Air Quality index; leapfrogging from BS-IV to BS-VI fuel standards; notification of Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules; banning of burning of biomass; streamlining the issuance of Pollution Under Control Certificate; issuance of directions under Section 18(1)(b) of Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and under Section 5 of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 for controlling air pollution; installation of on-line continuous (24x7) monitoring devices by major industries; notification of Graded Response Action Plan for Delhi and NCR;comprehensive action plan for air pollution control in Delhi and NCR. The Government has formulated National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) as a long term time bound pan India strategy to tackle the increasing air pollution problem across the country in a comprehensive manner. Hundred (100) non-attainment cities, including Bengaluru, have been selected for formulation and implementation of city specific action plan under NCAP. In addition, the NCAP has many additional peripheral components such as, Technical Assessment Cell, technology support, sharing of international best practices, awareness and capacity building, source apportionment studies, plantation drive, intensive inspection drive etc. to support the time bound implementation of NCAP.

(e) The Government has taken various initiatives to control air pollution in Karnataka including Bengaluru, which inter alia, include framing of city specific action plans for Bengaluru, Davanagere, Gulbarga and Hubli-Dharwad, city specific action plans for Air quality monitoring, etc.
*****