Cities under NCAP advised incorporating Mission LiFE actions in their plans
Union Minister for Environment Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, highlighted the significance of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and called for coordinated actions from various stakeholders, including the Union Government, State Governments, Union Territory Administrations, Urban Local Bodies, and State Pollution Control Boards, to implement air quality improvement measures. In his inaugural address to the meeting of the National Apex Committee under NCAP, the Minister appreciated the performance of 95 cities that improved air quality and 20 cities that met the National Ambient Air Quality Standard in FY 2021-22.
Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, congratulated nine cities that received a cash award under the Swacchh Vayu Sarvekshan conducted for FY 2022-23. He urged all cities to take air quality improvement measures and participate in the ranking framework. He also requested States/Union Territories to submit proposals under Nagar Van Yojana and AMRUT for increasing the green cover in NCAP cities.
The NCAP was launched on 10th January 2019, as a national-level strategy for reducing air pollution at city and regional scales in the country. The Programme aims to address air pollution by engaging all stakeholders and ensuring necessary action. It targets the reduction in Particulate Matter (PM10) levels up to 40% or achievement of national standards (60 microgram/cubic meter) by 2025-26 in targeted 131 cities of 24 States.
The meeting also had presentations from various Union Ministries on the schemes launched by the Government of India for improving air quality. State Governments of Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra presented the progress of implementation of Clean Air Action Plans and various activities under NCAP. The meeting urged all cities to upload action plans and progress reports on the PRANA portal for effective implementation of the Programme.
Representatives of eight Union Ministries, Central Pollution Control Board, Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas, Chief Secretaries, Additional Chief Secretaries/Principal Secretaries, Environment Department, Chairman of State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committees of 24 States/Union Territories, and 131 Municipal Commissioners representing cities covered under NCAP were present during the meeting.