**Executive Summary**
This document is the response to an unstarred question in Lok Sabha regarding air quality health hazards in coal-mining districts, particularly Korba, Chhattisgarh, to be answered on 12.12.2025. It addresses the awareness of respiratory illnesses, skin diseases, and occupational lung disorders due to air pollution, as well as government efforts to assess and mitigate these issues. The document confirms that health is primarily the responsibility of state governments.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Air Pollution & Health Impact:**
* Air pollution is a factor affecting respiratory ailments and associated diseases.
* Health is influenced by food habits, occupational habits, socioeconomic status, medical history, immunity, heredity, and the environment.
* **Government Responsibility & Actions:**
* Health is primarily the responsibility of State Governments.
* The 2015 amendment to the Mines & Minerals (Development & Regulations) Act 1957 mandated the creation of District Mineral Foundations in mining-affected districts for the welfare of affected people and areas.
* The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Network in Korba consists of 3 manual and 2 continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations.
* The city-wise good and bad days as provided by CPCB are observed in Korba.
* The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, under the National Health Mission, provides technical and financial support to States/UTs to strengthen healthcare systems based on submitted proposals.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments**
* **Impact:** Bears the primary responsibility for health and strengthening public healthcare systems.
* **Action Required:** Develop and implement Program Implementation Plans and submit proposals for strengthening their healthcare systems, taking advantage of the technical and financial support available under the National Health Mission.
**Residents and Mine-Workers in Coal-Mining Districts (Korba, Chhattisgarh)**
* **Impact:** Affected by respiratory illnesses, skin diseases, and occupational lung disorders due to air pollution.
* **Action Required:** Benefit from the welfare activities undertaken by the District Mineral Foundations in their districts, as prescribed by State Governments.
**Central Government (Ministry of Health & Family Welfare)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for providing technical and financial support to State/UT governments for strengthening healthcare systems.
* **Action Required:** Continue providing support to States/UTs under the National Health Mission based on the submitted Program Implementation Plans.
Key Entities Referenced
National Health Mission: A scheme under which the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare provides technical and financial support to States/UTs for strengthening their healthcare systems.
Mines & Minerals (Development & Regulations) Act 1957: Act mandating the creation of District Mineral Foundations in all mining affected Districts to work for the welfare of affected people and areas.
Korba, Chhattisgarh: Coal-mining district where air quality levels have crossed hazardous thresholds.
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare: The ministry responsible for addressing respiratory illnesses and air quality related health hazards.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB): National regulatory body that provides ambient air quality data, used for monitoring in Korba.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 2293
TO BE ANSWERED ON12.12.2025
AIR QUALITYHEALTH HAZARDS
2293.SMT.JYOTSNACHARANDASMAHANT:
Will the MINISTER OFHEALTHAND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:-
(a) whether the Government is aware of the rising incidence of respiratory illnesses, skin
diseases and occupational lung disorders such as pneumoconiosis among residents and
mine-workers in coal-mining districts, particularly in Korba, Chhattisgarh, where air-
quality levels have frequently crossed hazardous thresholds as highlighted in recent
national pollution bulletins (Korba air samples had PM2.5 concentrations ranged from
about 150.3 to 1,699.2 μg/m³ — i.e., 2.5 to 28.3 times higher than the Indian standard of
60μg/m³) andif so, the detailsthereof;
(b) whether the Government has conducted any updated epidemiological or environmental
-healthassessment incoal-belt regionsduring the last two years, especially afterthe recent
Central PollutionControl Board alertsandif so, the details thereof; and
(c) the steps being taken by the Government to strengthen district-level public health
infrastructure inKorba underNational HealthMission?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE INTHE MINISTRYOFHEALTH& FAMILY
WELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a) to (c) Air pollution is one of the factors affecting respiratory ailments and associated
diseases. Health is impacted by several factors, including food habits, occupational habits,
socioeconomic status, medical history, immunity, heredity, etc., of the individuals apart
from the environment. Health is primarily the responsibility of State Government. The
2015 amendment to the Mines & Minerals (Development & Regulations) Act 1957
mandated the creation of District Mineral Foundations in all mining affected Districts to
work for the welfare of affectedpeople and areasasprescribed byStateGovernments.As per Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Ambient Air Quality Monitoring
Network in Korba consists of 3 manual and 2 continuous ambient air quality monitoring
stations. The city-wise good andbaddaysasprovidedbyCPCBare observed inKorba.
Health is a State subject, the responsibility of strengthening public healthcare system lies
with the respective State/ Union Territory Governments. Under National Health Mission,
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare provides technical and financial support to
States/UTs for strengthening theirhealthcare systems based onthe proposals submitted by
themintheirProgram ImplementationPlans.
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