Question : IMPACT OF POLLUTION IN CITIES



(a) whether the World Health Organisation (WHO) in its recent report has declared Indian cities particularly Delhi as the most polluted city;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;

(c) whether the Government has conducted any study to assess the impact of growing pollution on inhabitants of Delhi and other metropolitan/non-metropolitan towns and cities;

(d) if so, the details and outcome thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto; and

(e) the plan of action initiated by the Government to contain pollution in various cities?;

Answer given by the minister


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

(a) & (b). World Health Organisation (WHO) has recently released Ambient Air pollution Database-update 2014 for more than 1600 cities at global level considering two pollutants PM10 (particulate matter having size equal to or less than 10 micron) and PM2.5 (particulate matter having size equal to or less than 2.5 micron). National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) notified by the Government in the year 2009 envisage 12 pollutants including PM2.5. WHO has relied on one pollutant only while mentioning Delhi as most polluted city of the world which is improper.

(c) & (d). No direct study to assess the impact of growing pollution on inhabitants of Delhi and other metropolitan/non-metropolitan town and cities has been done by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) or the Ministry. However, CPCB sponsored 3 epidemiological study projects (2 in urban areas and 1 in rural areas) to Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata. The findings of the study indicate several pulmonary and systematic changes, altered immunity and damage to chromosomes and DNA and other health impairments associated with cumulative exposure to high level of particulate pollution which may aggravate/ increase the risk of various diseases including cardiovascular and cancer.

(e) The Government has taken various measure to curb pollution in cities which inter alia include, supply of cleaner fuels as per auto fuel policy, use of gaseous fuel for public transport, pollution under control (PUC) certificate for in use vehicles, stringent source specific emission standards, strict compliance of source specific emission standards, use of beneficiated coal in thermal power plants, strengthening public transport, expanding metro train system, implementation of revised emission norms for gensets, implementation of city specific action plan in 16 cities, etc.

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