Govt has taken steps to expedite transition to cleaner fuel: Prakash Javadekar

Noting that air pollution could be one of the factors behind respiratory ailments, the government today said it has taken steps to expedite the process of transition to cleaner fuel and notified rules for waste management in the country.

"There are no conclusive data available in the country to establish direct co-relationship of death exclusively due to air pollution. Air pollution could be one of the triggering factors for respiratory ailments and associated diseases," Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said in a written reply to Lok Sabha.

"The ministry revised the existing rules for better waste management, that is, hazardous waste, e-waste, plastic waste, bio-medical waste, construction and demolition waste and solid waste for better implementation and management in the country," he said.

He said government has taken steps to expedite the process of transition to cleaner fuel including introduction of 5% ethanol gasoline fuels by Ministry for Petroleum and Natural Gas, introduction of alternative fuels like CNG, LPG and bio-diesel and progressive tightening of emission norms along with supply of commensurate fuel quality and leapfrogging from BS IV to BS VI with effect from April 1, 2020.