Question : Deaths due to Pollution

(a) whether the Government is aware that every eighth person is dying in the country due to pollution and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether 12.4 lakh people have died in the country due to air pollution till year 2017;
(c) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government to check pollution in the country;
(d) the number of people affected due to pollution in Uttar Pradesh; and
(e) whether any accountability of officers failing to check rising air pollution in the country has been fixed and if so, the details thereof?

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

(a)& (b) There is 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 Government has however, 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.

(d)Also, there are no conclusive data available for the State of Uttar Pradesh to establish direct correlation of people affected exclusively due to air pollution. However, 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 15 cities of Uttar Pradesh namely, Agra, Allahabad, Anpara, Bareilly, Firozabad, Gajraula, Ghaziabad, Jhansi, Kanpur, Khurja, Lucknow, Muradabad, Noida, Raebareliand Varanasi have been selected for formulation and implementation of city specific action plan under NCAP.

(e)The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981; Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 have sufficient provisions to control, abate and take punitive action against any offences.
*********