(THE GIST OF PIB) National Clean Air Program

[April-2022]

The Minister of Environment, Forest & Climate Change has provided city-wise details of funds released to support the implementation of City Specific action plans (CAPs) for the improvement of Air Quality under NCAP.

About NCAP:

National Clean Air Program (NCAP) is a pollution control initiative that was launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in 2019.
This is the first ever effort in the country to frame a national framework for air quality management with a time-bound reduction target.
It aims to reduce particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) pollution by 20-30% in 132 cities by 2024, with 2017 as the base year for comparison.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) executes this programme.

Implementation:

Under NCAP, 132 non-attainment cities have been identified across the country as they did not meet the national ambient air quality standards for the 2011-15 under the National Air Quality Monitoring Program.
Apart from experts from the industry and academia, the programme is a collaboration between the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Ministry of Heavy Industry, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health, NITI Aayog, and Central Pollution Control Board.
City specific action plans have been prepared which include measures for strengthening the monitoring network, reducing vehicular/industrial emissions, increasing public awareness etc.
Implementation of the city specific action plans are regularly monitored by Committees at Central and State level namely Steering Committee, Monitoring Committee and Implementation Committee.
Air quality of cities is monitored by State Pollution Control Boards which publishes their results from time to time.