Goals of National Clean Air Programme

Context

The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) is a crucial initiative launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in January 2019. Its primary objective is to improve air quality in 131 cities across India, including non-attainment cities and Million Plus Cities. By engaging all relevant stakeholders, the NCAP aims to address the pressing issue of air pollution and create a healthier environment for citizens.

Key Goals of NCAP

• Reduction in PM10 Concentrations:

1. 1. • The NCAP targets a significant reduction in PM10 (particulate matter with a diameter of 10 micrometers or less) concentrations.
      • Initially, the goal was to achieve a 20-30% reduction in PM10 levels by 2024-25 compared to the baseline year of 2017-18.
      • However, this target has been revised, aiming for up to a 40% reduction in PM10 levels or meeting national standards (60 µg/m³) by 2025-2026.

• City-Specific Action Plans:

1. 1. • To achieve these reductions, city-specific action plans have been developed.
      • Each city has been assigned a specific target for reducing annual PM10 concentrations, ranging from 4% to 15%.

• Improvement in Good Air Quality Days:

1. • The NCAP also focuses on enhancing the number of “Good Days” when air quality falls below an acceptable threshold (Air Quality Index <200).
   • For 49 Million Plus cities and Urban Agglomerations, the annual target is a 15% improvement in Good Days.

Funding and Support

• The XVth Finance Commission Million Plus Cities Challenge Fund provides financial support to these cities.
• Gujarat cities have received a total of Rs. 1085.42 crore until 2023-24 under the NCAP.
• These funds are utilized for implementing air quality improvement measures and achieving the set targets.

Challenges and Way Forward

While NCAP has made some progress in improving air quality in the non-attainment cities, significant challenges remain:

• Lack of adequate financial resources for implementation of city-specific action plans.
• Weak enforcement of pollution control measures by the state pollution control boards.
• Limited public participation and awareness on air pollution issues.
• Inadequate coordination between various government agencies involved in air pollution control.

To overcome these challenges and achieve the goals of NCAP, the following measures are needed:

• Increased budgetary allocation for NCAP and effective utilization of funds.
• Strengthening of the institutional and technical capacity of state pollution control boards.
• Launching massive public awareness campaigns on air pollution and its health impacts.
• Promoting inter-agency coordination through joint monitoring and enforcement drives.
• Adopting a multi-sectoral approach involving various stakeholders like industries, transport, agriculture, etc.
• Conducting source apportionment studies to identify the major sources of air pollution in each city.
• Implementing sector-specific emission control measures based on the source apportionment studies.
• Extending NCAP beyond 2024 to achieve the long-term goal of meeting the ambient air quality standards.

Conclusion

NCAP represents a significant step forward in India’s efforts to tackle the growing menace of air pollution. However, achieving the ambitious goals set under NCAP will require sustained efforts, adequate resources, strong political will, and active participation of all stakeholders. With a comprehensive and coordinated approach, NCAP has the potential to transform India’s air quality landscape and safeguard the health and well-being of its citizens.

Source: PIB

UPSC Mains Practice Question

Q. Describe the key points of the revised Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs) recently released by the World Health Organisation (WHO). How are these different from its last update in 2005? What changes in India’s National Clean Air Programme are required to achieve revised standards? (2021)

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