Question : Pollution-Free Cities

(a) whether any effective steps have been taken by the Government to keep tourist places, historical places and the cities pollution-free;
(b) if so, the details of funds allocated and spent for implementation of such schemes, during the last three years and the current year, State-wise particularly Bihar;
(c) whether any agreement has been signed between Union Government and State Governments to keep the cities pollution-free; and
(d) if so, the details of assistance provided to State Governments in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a) to (d) A number of measures have been taken by the Government to control pollution in the cities including the places of tourist and historical importance. The Central Pollution Control Board is coordinating the activities relating to prevention and control of pollution with the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs)/Pollution Control Committees (PCCs). CPCB periodically organize interactive and review meetings with SPCBs/PCCs including Bihar State Pollution Control Board on various issues relating to prevention and control of pollution. The important issues reviewed in such meetings and the action plans formulated include water and air quality monitoring, industry specific pollution abatement programmes, restoration of environmental quality in critically polluted areas, waste management, river cleaning programme and Environmental Management in Heritage, Pilgrimage and Tourist Centres including Taj Protection etc. Since the existing mechanism provided under various Acts and Rules adequately spells out the mandate of the Central Government and the State Governments for protection of the environment in the country, it is not necessary to have any formal agreement between the Central Government and the State Governments for keeping the cities pollution free.

The Assistance for Abatement of Pollution, financial support for setting up of Common Effluent Treatment Plants and National Air Quality Monitoring Programme implemented in association with Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) / Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) are the important schemes aimed at pollution control. The details of financial support provided for these schemes are given at Annexure I and Annexure II respectively.
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