Government has launched of National Air Quality index and decided to leapfrog from BS-IV to BS-VI fuels standards to combat air pollution

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Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha yesterday informed that pollution is one of the triggering factors for respiratory ailments and associated diseases. There is no conclusive data available in the country to establish direct correlation of death/ disease exclusively due to pollution. Health effects of pollution are synergistic manifestation of factors, which include food habits, occupational habits, socio-economic status, medical history, immunity, heredity, etc., of the individuals.

It was stated that Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has identified 131 cities (including 123 non-attainment cities exceeding National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), which were notified to protect human health) in the country which includes Kanpur city. Further, CPCB carried out environmental quality monitoring in 100 Industrial Areas, including Kanpur Industrial Area, during 2018 and evaluated Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index (CEPI) scores. The Kanpur Industrial Area has CEPI score of 89.46. The Government has taken several steps to combat pollution in the country, which include:

Notification of National Ambient Air Quality Standards,
Notification 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.),
Launching of National Air Quality index,
Leapfrogging from BS-IV to BS-VI fuel standards.

Notifications of waste management rules/regulations which were issued include:

Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016,
E-Waste Management Rules, 2022,
Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016,
Bio-medical Waste Management Rules, 2016,
Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules 2016,
Utilization of Ash from Coal and Lignite based Thermal Power Plant 2021.

In the written reply it was stated that for abatement of water pollution and chemical pollution, the steps taken by the Government include formulation and notification of standards for effluents from industries and sewage treatment plants into land masses/water bodies. Enforcement of these standards is done by State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) through a consent mechanism to establish/operate; setting up of monitoring network for assessment of water quality; promotion of cleaner production processes, etc.

It was also stated that Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and SPCB are empowered under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 for taking all necessary action for improvement of condition of environment.