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Progress Report on Air Quality Improvement Under NCAP
Context:
The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in India is showing promising results, with significant improvements in air quality across many cities.
More on News:
- According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), 95 of the 131 cities covered under the NCAP have demonstrated enhanced air quality.
- Notably, 21 of these cities have achieved a reduction in PM10 pollution by over 40% compared to 2017-18 levels.
The National Clean Air Programme Overview
- The NCAP was launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in January 2019.
- Original Target: Initially aimed to reduce particulate pollution by 20-30% by 2024, using 2017 as the base year.
- Revised Target: A 40% reduction by 2026, with 2019-20 as the new base year.
Key Highlights:
- Currently, performance assessment under the NCAP is focused solely on PM10 concentration.
- Only 18 out of 131 cities met the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for PM10, which is set at 60 micrograms per cubic metre.
- PM10 levels in Delhi have seen a reduction of between 10-20%, with the city being one of the most polluted capitals globally.
Government Initiatives:
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- Financial Allocations: Rs. 19,612 crore has been allocated for city action plans from 2019-20 to 2025-26.
- Nagar Van Yojana: 3,776 hectares of Nagar Van/Vatikas created in 64 cities.
- Tree Plantation Campaign: Extensive tree planting drives were conducted in 131 cities under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
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National Mission for Green India (GIM):
- It is a key initiative under India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).
- Objectives: To safeguard, restore, and enhance India’s forest cover while addressing climate change through a blend of adaptation and mitigation strategies.
- Features:
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- The mission adopts a comprehensive approach to greening by focusing on various ecosystem services, including biodiversity, water resources, biomass, and critical habitats, alongside carbon sequestration.
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It emphasises an integrated, cross-sectoral approach, involving both public and private lands, and actively engages local communities in planning, decision-making, implementation, and monitoring.