Cement, Energy & Environment

' (b) If so, the details thereof; and (c) The steps taken by the Government to converse the said areas? ANSWER Minister Of State (Independent Charge) For Environment And Forests (Shrimathi Jayanthi Natarajan) (a) to (b) In the notification eco-sensitive zones under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, no such invasion by miners has come to the notice of the Ministry of Environmental and Forests. The Jashpur District of Chhattisgarh has not been notified as Eco Sensitive by the Ministry of Environment and Forests. (c) The steps by the Ministry of Environment and Forests to converse the notified eco-sensitive zones including the following: i. Eco-sensitive zones are notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 for certain identified areas and areas around National Parks and Sanctuaries. In these Notifications, provisions have been made to regulate I prohibit certain activities. ii. For purpose of effective management of Eco-Sensitive Zones, provision is made in the respective notifications for preparation of Zonal Master Plan for integrating environmental and ecological considerations. iii. In order to monitor compliance of the provisions of the notified Eco– Sensitive Zones, the notification provides for constitution of a monitoring committee iv. The Chairman/ Member Secretary of the Monitoring committee is empowered to file complaint under section 19 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 against any person who contravenes the provisions of the Eco-Sensitive Zone Notification. **** GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4510 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.04.2013 Pollution by coal based thermal plants 4510. Shri Bibhu Prasad Tarai : Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS be pleased to state: (a) Whether the Government's attention has been drawn to a study report entitled "Coal Ki lls--– An Assessment of Death and Disease caused by India 's dirtiest energy source" by Urban emissions info and Greenpeace India which says Emissions from coal-fired power are responsible for a large mortality and morbidity burden on human health; (b) If so, the details thereof along with the salient features/ findi ngs of the report; and (c) The steps taken/ being taken by the Government to curb the pollution emitting from such coal based power plants and its effect on the people residing nearby? ANSWER Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Environemtn and Forests (Shrimathi Jayanthi Natarajan) (a) & (b) Comprehensive studies of health (c) impacts caused by particulate air pollution attributable to coal power plants have been carried out in the United States of America (USA) and parts of Europe, such data is hard to come by in India. However an attempt has been made by the conservation Trust, Urban emissions info and Greenpeace India from a database of coal-fired power plants for the operational period of 2011- 2012 . The report has highl ighted that coal is taking a heavy toll on human life across large parts of the country. Further the said report has stated India coal plants resulted in 80,000 to 1,15, 000 premature deaths and more than 20 million asthma cases from exposure to total PM 10 pollution. The Ministry has been taking multi– pronged steps to curb the pollution emitting from such local based power plants which includes: 40