Context:
According to a new report, India achieved a 26.84 per cent reduction in nationwide PM levels between 2019 and 2024.
More on the News
- This report released on the 6th anniversary of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) by Respirer Living Sciences (Climate start-up) assesses air quality trends across 130 cities, leveraging the advanced AtlasAQ platform for real-time data integration.
- Report name: – Towards Clear Skies 2025: An In-Depth Analysis of Air Quality Improvements in Indian Cities (2019-2024).
Key Highlights of the Report
• Cities included in the NCAP saw a 24.45% improvement in air quality, showing the positive effects of targeted efforts.
• Delhi and Byrnihat in Assam remain the most polluted cities in India.
- In 2024, their PM2.5 levels were recorded at 107 µg/m3 and 127.3 µg/m3, respectively.
• Among major cities, Kolkata made good progress with a 21.5% reduction in pollution due to stricter rules for industries and improvements in public transportation.
• Overall, Varanasi achieved the biggest improvement, with a 76.4% reduction in air pollution followed by Moradabad (-58%), and Kanpur (-51.2%) reduction.
• Despite these gains, the northern region (including the Delhi-NCR) still faces severe pollution problems: – Gurugram (96.7 µg/m3); Faridabad (87.1 µg/m3); Ghaziabad (79.9 µg/m3).
• Cities in the south and west of India have shown consistent reductions in pollution levels.
• Northern cities continue to struggle with poor air quality due to: – Industrial emissions, Vehicle pollution, and Seasonal issues like stubble burning.
National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)
- The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) launched NCAP in January 2019.
- It aimed to reduce Particulate Matter (PM)2.5 and PM10 levels by 20-30 per cent by 2024.
- The target was later revised to a 40 per cent reduction by 2026.
- It has a target to improve air quality in 131 cities (non-attainment cities and Million Plus Cities) in 24 States/UTs by engaging all stakeholders.
- The Central Pollution Control Board under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, of 1981 executes the nationwide program for the prevention, control, and abetment of air pollution within the framework of the NCAP.