Govt examining World bank report on environmental degradation

The government today said it is examining a World Bank report which estimated the total cost of environmental degradation in the country at about Rs 3.75 trillion annually.
"A World Bank report titled 'India Diagnostic Assessment of Select Environmental Challenges' has estimated the total cost of environmental degradation in India at about Rs 3.75 trillion (USD 80 billion) annually," Environment and Forests minister Jayanthi Natarajan said in a written reply to a query in the Rajya Sabha.
"The report is being examined by the government," she said.
In reply to another query, the minister said poor water supply is not a direct cause of deaths in children. However, drinking of unsafe water is responsible for water-borne diseases which can cause child morbidity and mortality.

"As per World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates, 11 per cent of child mortality in the age group of 0-5 years in India is due to diarrhoeal disease," Natarajan said.
The government provides financial and technical assistance to states under National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) to supplement their efforts to provide adequate safe drinking water to the rural population, she said.
"A budgetary allocation of Rs 11,000 crore has been provided for NRDWP in 2013-14," the minister said.