Cement, Energy & Environment

, ANSWER Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Environemtn and Forests (Shrimathi Jayanthi Natarajan) (a) & (b) As per the Hazardous Wastes (Management, Handling & Transboundary Movements) Rules, 2008, the import of Hazardous waste/e-waste is allowed for recycling, recovery or reuse. No import is allowed for the purpose of disposal. The category of Hazardous waste applicable for import listed in Schedule ill of the Hazardous Wastes Rules. (c) As per the information furnished by CPCB, 96 recycling/ dismantling units. In the country having environmentally sound facilities have been granted Registration by different State Pollution Control Boards/ Pollution Control Committees for recycling/ dismantling of approx. 2, 92, 457 MTA of e-waste. (d) During 2010, 2012 and the current year, the Ministry has granted permission for import of 16, 45, 329 MT; 1 I 94, 408 MT; 8, 22, 429 MT; and 3, 25 , 960 MT; of hazardous wastes, respectively for recycling , recovery or reuse under the Hazardous Wastes Rul es, 2008. During the period no permission for import of e-waste has been granted by the Ministry. **** GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 14 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5.08.2013 Outdoors Air Pollution 14. Shri Sanjay Bhoi: Shri Yashvir Singh: Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS to be pleased to state: (a) Whether according to a latest World Bank Report, outdoor air pollution in urban areas claims lakh of adults and children annually besides causing adverse effect on the economy; (b) If so, the details of the report and the likely impact on the Indian economy thereof; (c) Whether the Government has examined the report; (d) If so, the reaction of the Government thereof; and (e) The steps taken/ being taken by the Government to bring down outdoor air pollution in urban areas? ANSWER Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Environemtn and Forests (Shrimathi Jayanthi Natarajan) (a) To (e) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House ***** STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION N0.14 DUE FOR REPLY ON 05.08.2013 RAISED BY SHRI SANJAY BHOI AND SHRI YASHVIR SINGH REGARDING 'OUTDOOR AIR POLLUTION'. (a) To (b) The World Bank has recently published as report titled Diagnostics Assessment of Selection Environmental Challenges (three volumes). The report provides estimates social and financial cost of environmental damaging in India considering urban air ,Jollution/ outdoor air pollution, indoor air pollution inadequate water supply, sanitation, etc. The estimates mentioned in the report are indicative rather than conclusive. Besides, World Bank has analyzed the ambient air quality data only for the year 2008 , collated and compiled by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). No study on pollution related mortality has been conducted by World Bank or, CPCB in the country. World Bank has drawn its estimates without a study on pollution related mortality. All figures in estimates are for 2009 values or as close to that year. The report has mentioned the exercise conducted here has a great deal of uncertainty, including that arising from limitations of data on social costs, from methods used to estimate the effects of pollution and resources degradation on indicators of health or output i.e the concentration-response functions, and from the transfer of some unit values from studies of India. The report has mentioned the impact on GOP growth rate is almost neg ligible when compared to business as usual scenario. (c) & (d) The report has been examined . It is based on secondary data. It does not represent the view of the Government. (e) The Government has taken various steps includ ing formulation of action 45