93 Written Answers [9 MAY 1985] to Questions 94 Secretaries of the Central and State Pollution (a) whether it is a fact that arising from Control Boards meet once in three months to the recent personal visits of Foreign Secretary discuss problems of air and water pollution Shri Romesh Bhandari to various countries and decide on control policies. India's relations with Pakistan, Sri Lanka, The Central Pollution Control Board has Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan are going to divided the country into five regions. take a new turn a reported in the "Statesman" s Regional Coordinatiors have been, appointed of the 10th April, 1985; for each of these regions for coordination with (b) if so, what are the details in this the States in respective regions. regard; and fc) whether there is any proposal under Air Pollution due to Lead in Petrol Government's consideration to make Shri 950. SHRI YALLA SESI BHUSHANA Romesh Bhandari the first Secretary General RAO: Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased of the PAN-South East Asian Conference in to state: recognition of his services to the country? (a) whether it is a fact that over THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE 60 per cent of air pollution is due to MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS petrol|diesel driven engines; (SHRI KHURSHID ALAM KHAN): (a) and (b) Government have seen the report in the (b) whether it is also a fact that lead per "States. man" of the 10th April, which con- cent used in India is highest in the world, if tains the assessment of that newspaper. The so, the reasons there-for; and Foreign Secretary's visit to neighbouring (c) whether Government propose to stop countries was in pursuance of Prime Minister use of lead in petrol as has teen done by Rajiv Gandhi's directive to accord priority to U.S.A. and use 10 per cent alcohol. instead? our neighbours and to further improve relations with them. THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND (c) No, Sir. Government is not aware of FORESTS (SHRI VIR SEN): (a> Yes, Sir. any proposal to hold, a PAN-South East Asian Conference. (b) No, Sir; Air and Water Pollution in the country (c) No, Sir. However the petrol manufacturing companies are being advised to 94D. SHRI PARVATHANENI UP- reduce the lead content in the petrol. The use ENDRA; Will the PRIME MINISTER be of alcohol instead of lead is not feasible as pleased to state whether there is any Centre- alcohol is not available in sufficient quantity. State coordination for meeHng the serious problem of pollution of air and water in the country and if so, the delails of the infra-Btfb' ture developed in this regard? THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF .ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI VIR SEN): Yes, Sir. TheTe is coordination between the Central Pollution Control Board and the State Pollution Control Boards. The Chairman and Member- .