NATIONAL CLEAN AIR PROGRAM - ENVIRONMENT
WHY IN NEWS?
The Indian Government will review air quality plans in 131 cities,
focusing on dust control, EV charging, public transport, waste management, and
urban greening. Following a recent progress assessment of 82 cities, the
upcoming NCAP steering committee meeting will address city actions, fund use,
and scrutiny over non-essential spending by the National Green Tribunal.
About National Clean Air Programme
(NCAP):
- Initiative: Launched in
January 2019 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
(MoEFCC).
- Objective: Reduce PM2.5 and
PM10 levels by 40% by 2026 from 2017 levels.
- Focus Areas: Targets 131
cities with poor air quality, addressing vehicular emissions, industrial
discharges, construction dust, and waste burning.
- Key Features: Enhanced air
quality monitoring, strict regulation enforcement, public awareness,
cleaner technologies, inter-departmental coordination, financial
incentives, and scientific research.
Challenges Faced by NCAP:
- Fund Utilization: Only 60% of
allocated funds used on average; cities like Visakhapatnam and Bengaluru
have spent minimal amounts.
- Delays: Approvals for
initiatives are slow, affecting pollution control measures.
- Standardization: Lack of
standardized procedures leads to inconsistencies.
- Bureaucratic
Hurdles: Bureaucracy hampers effective
implementation.
- Efficacy Skepticism: Doubts about certain
measures, like smog towers, impact decision-making.
- Incomplete
Studies: Only 37% of cities have completed Emissions
Inventory (EI) and Source Apportionment (SA) studies.
Recommendations:
- Effective Data
Use: Utilize EI and SA data for targeted
mitigation.
- Comprehensive
Strategies: Address both primary and secondary
pollutants.
- Decision-Support
Systems: Encourage adoption for real-time
monitoring and proactive measures.
- Streamlined
Implementation: Simplify planning
processes for quicker execution of NCAP measures.
Source:
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/govt-to-review-clean-air-action-plan-of-cities-to-ensure-fast-track-use-of-funds-9457866/