Question : CARBON EMISSION

(a) whether the Government has taken concrete steps to reduce carbon emissions in industries and automobile sectors;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has a proposal to penalise the heavy polluting industries;

(d) if so, whether any study has been conducted on the impact of such a penalty on industrial growth; and

(e) the steps taken by the Government towards promoting the acquiring of and trading in Carbon Credits?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRIMATI JAYANTHI NATARAJAN)

(a)&(b). The emission standards for various categories of industries, boilers, gensets, vehicles, etc. have been notified and being enforced by concerned Ministries, Departments, organizations, etc. These standards are revisited periodically and revised emission norms are notified accordingly. BS-IV emission norms compliant 4 wheelers and BS-III emission norms compliant 2/3 wheelers are being sold in certain cities and towns with effect from 1st April, 2010, as per Auto Fuel Policy. Stringent emission norms require implant control measures apart from advance end of pipe emission control devices. Implant control measures and more stringent emission norms help in reduction of carbon emission (i.e., unburnt carbon particles) in industry and automobile sectors.

(c)&(d). The industries, found violating emission standards, are issued closure directions under the Air Act, 1981 or the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, on case to case basis by the concerned State Pollution Control Board or the Central Pollution Control Board. Such industries are liable to be prosecuted under the law. However, the Ministry of Environment & Forests or the Central Pollution Control Board has not undertaken any study on the impact of closure or prosecution of such industry due to violation of environmental law vis-à-vis industrial growth.

(e). The Government promotes and builds capacity for participation in the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) for acquiring and trading of carbon credits through organizing various workshops and seminars from time to time in cooperation with industry associations.