No Indian study to show pollution shortens life: Union Minister Javadekar
Draws flak from environment experts
New Delhi: Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar's remark on Friday that there was no Indian study to show pollution impacts people's life and health, drew sharp reaction from environment experts across the country who termed it a "no-brainer".
Earlier in the day, while responding to a query in the Lok Sabha, Javadekar said no Indian study has shown any correlation between pollution and shortening of lifespan.
"Let us not create a fear psychosis among people," the minister told the House.
Several studies conducted by renowned think tanks like World Health Organisation, Lancet, Centre for Science and Environment and others have blamed pollution for causing deaths in the country.
According to a study conducted by Lancet last year, one in eight deaths were attributable to pollution in India in 2017. Another study by CSE revealed that one lakh children under 5 years of age die from respiratory problems arising due to air pollution in India every year.
Criticising the minister for his statement, environmentalists said it was "shocking" and condemnable.
"It is really shocking. At a time when the national capital region is inhaling polluted air, such kind of statement adds to the injury. Observing the seriousness of the issue, top courts - Supreme Court, National Green Tribunal and Delhi High Court are conducting hearing on day-to-day basis on the matter. Does our great minister mean that our courts are wasting their time on the issue?
"Such statements must be condemned at all levels be it within the Parliament or outside," said environment activist and advocate Gaurav Bansal.
Expressing a similar view, environment expert Anjal Prakash, who was one of the lead authors in the IPCC report on oceans and cryosphere, said, global research has shown the impact of pollution on health.
"I do not agree with the minister's statement. It is a no-brainer to say this," said Prakash, who is the Research Director at Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business, Hyderabad.
Greenpeace India's Avinash Chanchal also said that the environment minister should not "digress" the Parliament and the people of India by making such a statement.
"Let's be clear that air pollution and its consequences on public health is not a debate. It's an emergency that must be addressed. There is enough information and studies on air pollution that established that air pollution is making people sick and endangering their long term health.
"The minister should not digress the Parliament and the people of India. The government must implement a strong action plan to tackle the issue across the polluted cities," Chanchal said.
Another environmentalist Radha Goyal, Deputy Director, Indian Pollution Control Association (IPCA) said it is wrong to say there is no correlation between pollution and health.
"It is wrong to say that. Pollution definitely aggravates health issues and several studies have been conducted by experienced scientists," she said adding that the minister must have made the statement under pressure to tackle with the problem.
"May be because the ministry and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) are under extreme pressure and have not been able to tackle the situation well that such a statement was made," Goyal said.
The experts, however, urged that there was a need for allocation of more resources in finding the linkages.
"We will need more research that tells us the impact of pollution on people's life in India. The research community urges the minister to allocate more resources in finding the linkages," Prakash said.
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Andhra CM Naidu promises cash incentives for third, fourth child
Narasannapeta (Andhra Pradesh) (PTI): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday announced incentives of Rs 30,000 for the birth of a third child and Rs 40,000 for a fourth, as part of efforts to reverse the state’s declining population trend.
Addressing a public meeting at Narsannapeta in Srikakulam district, Naidu said he had taken the decision and would announce further details within a month.
“I have made a new decision. We will provide Rs 30,000 immediately after the birth of a third child and Rs 40,000 for a fourth child. Isn’t this the right decision?” Naidu said on the sidelines of the SwarnaAndhra SwachAndhra cleanliness programme.
Although he had once advocated population control measures, the CM said the time had now come for society to work together to increase the birth rate.
Naidu’s latest announcement follows an earlier proposal to provide a Rs 25,000 incentive for the birth of a second child.
On March 5, he informed the Assembly that the state government was considering an incentive of Rs 25,000 for couples having a second child.
However, Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav told PTI on Saturday that the government had decided to extend the incentives to families having a third child and beyond.
According to Naidu, rising incomes are leading some couples to opt for a single child, while others are choosing a second child only if their firstborn is a girl.
As a result, he warned that the state’s population growth rate is declining and stressed the importance of maintaining the replacement-level total fertility rate (TFR) of 2.1.
He noted that a population remains stable only when the fertility rate is 2.1 children per woman.
He emphasised that declining populations and ageing societies in several countries have adversely affected their economies.
Rejecting the notion that children are a burden, Naidu argued that they are an asset and vowed to demonstrate it.
Referring to the Talliki Vandanam welfare scheme, which provides Rs 15,000 per school-going child per annum, Naidu said he would increase the amount “if God shows mercy”.
He said the government is printing tamper-proof pattadar passbooks (land documents) and assured that there would be “no land disputes” by March 2027.
The TDP supremo promised to develop the Srikakulam district through infrastructure projects and the completion of irrigation works.
Giving project timelines, Naidu said the government would complete the Madduvalasa Stage–II project by January 2027, the Hiramandalam Lift Irrigation Project by April 2027, and the Thotapalli distributaries by July 2027, among others.
After the formation of the TDP-led NDA government, he said that 86 lakh tonnes of legacy waste had been cleared and promised 100 per cent clearance by June.
Further, the CM urged people to follow PM Narendra Modi’s guidelines to address economic challenges arising from the US–Israel–Iran conflict.
Naidu advised people to work from home as much as possible, reduce gold purchases, explore domestic tourism, use public transport, and take similar steps to support the economy and cooperate with the government.
