'Constn activities added over 20 pc dust to air in six cities'

Contribution of construction activities to dust particles in ambient air ranges between 22-23 per cent in six Indian cities including Delhi, the government today said while acknowledging that such wastes are a big contributer to air pollution.
"Yes sir. As per the report on Source Apportionment studies undertaken by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in association with other leading institutions in six metropolitan cities including Delhi during the year 2007-09...
"...Contribution of construction activities to dust particles (particulate matter) in ambient air ranges between 22-23 per cent," Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said in Rajya Sabha.
He said that his ministry has notified the Municipal Solid Waste (Management and Handling) Rules 2000 under the Environment (Protection) Act 1986.

He said as per these rules, construction and demolition wastes should be collected separately and disposed off in accordance to the laws.
He said that his ministry has also notified the draft Solid Waste Management Rules 2015 for

environmentally sound management of construction and demolition waste which include mandatory approval of waste management plan by bulk generators of such wastes.
Replying to another question, he said that there are a total 89 proposals related to infrastructure across the country which is presently under the consideration of the Ministry for grant of environment clearance in terms of provisions of Environment Impact Assessment Notification 2006.

Replying to another question, he said that as per India State of Forest Report-2013, the total forest cover in the country is 697,898 square kms which is 21.23 per cent of the total geographical area of the country.
"There is a net increase of 5,871 square km in the forest cover of the country as compared with India State of Forest Report-2011. It is also a fact that the density of population has increased in the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Jharkhand," Javadekar said.
He said that to increase the forest and tree cover and improve the quality of existing forest, afforestation in the country is taken up under various centrally-sponsored schemes such as National Afforestation Programme (NAP), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP), National Bamboo Mission (NBM) and Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) and others.