(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-Ã -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.