All that was discussed in the House through the day
Ozone was reported as a prominent pollutant for 95 days in Delhi in the last three years
Ozone levels in Delhi and the National Capital Region were beyond the prescribed limit in the last three years (2016-2018), Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change told the Lok Sabha on June 28.
According to data presented by Javadekar, ozone was reported as a prominent pollutant for 95 days in Delhi and 11, 48, 8 and 49 days in Faridabad, Gurugram, Ghaziabad and Noida respectively.
Although the rise in ozone levels is one of the triggering factors for respiratory ailments and associated diseases, India does not have conclusive data yet to establish a direct correlation of mortality/morbidity exclusively due to a rise in ozone levels, added the minister.
Environment minister refuses to acknowledge the health impact of air pollution
There is no conclusive data available in India to establish a direct correlation between death and disease exclusively due to air pollution, Prakash Javadekar told Parliament. The minister made the statement while acknowledging the government was aware of a 2019 study that quantified total life expectancy loss in South Asia from air pollution.
According to the 2019 study, total life expectancy loss in South Asia from air pollution was estimated to be two years and six months.
Final notification on ecologically sensitive zones covers 33 per cent of India's protected areas
Of the 651 Protected Areas (PAs) in India, 316 have been covered the final ESZ (ecologically sensitive zones) notification issued on June 25, 2019, Union Minister of State, Ministry Of Environment, Forest And Climate Change, told Parliament on June 28.
The ESZ notification provides for prohibition of mining, stone quarrying and crushing units located within one kilometre (km) of PAs. Also, in the absence of the notification, an area of 10 km around the PA is considered as 'default ESZ' according to the directions of the Supreme Court.
India has announced its voluntary goal to reduce its GDP's emission intensity by 2020
India has already announced its voluntary goal to reduce the emission intensity of its GDP by 20-25 per cent from 2005 levels by 2020. The National Determined Contributions have to be achieved between 2021 and 2030.
These were details of the second Biennial Update Report submitted by the Indian government to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 2018.
They were shared by Babul Supriyo in reply to a question on measures being taken by the Centre to prevent the adverse impact on ecosystems due to the alarming rate of climate change.
No proposal to provide central assistance for Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana
Under the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana framework, the development of Gram Panchayats is envisaged through convergence and implementation of existing government schemes and programmes under the administrative control of respective ministries, without allocating additional funds.
Therefore, the government does not have any plans to provide Central assistance for Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana, Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister of Rural Development informed Parliament.
Of 68,289 projects undertaken by 1,295 Gram Panchayats, 37,954 (56 per cent) have been completed as of June 24, 2019, he added.
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