Strategies to Reduce Air Pollution

Context (PIB): The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) presented the initiatives taken to reduce air pollution in Rajya Sabha.

Key Initiatives:

• National Clean Air Programme (NCAP): Launched by MoEFCC in 2019, aiming to improve air quality in Million Plus Cities and non-attainment cities (those unable to meet NAAQS for five years). The programme targets a reduction in Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10) concentration by 20-30% by 2024, with the PM10 reduction target revised to up to 40%.
• Notification of Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS): Setting benchmarks for air quality to safeguard public health and the environment.
• Promotion of Ethanol Blending: Encouraging the use of ethanol-blended fuels to reduce vehicular emissions.
• National Air Quality Index: Launching a system to monitor and report air quality in real-time across various cities.
• BS VI Compliant Vehicles: Introduction of BS VI emission standards for vehicles across the country since April 2020 to reduce vehicular pollution.
• Graded Response Action Plan: Implementing a set of measures to combat air pollution in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) based on the severity of pollution levels.
• Monitoring Network: Setting up a network to assess ambient air quality continuously.
• Cleaner/Alternate Fuels: Promoting the use of cleaner fuels like CNG and LPG to reduce emissions from vehicles.

National Clean Air Programme (NCAP):

• Targets: Aims to reduce Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10) concentrations by 20-30% by 2024 (baseline is 2017). The target for PM10 has been revised to up to 40%.
• City Action Plans (CAPs): Prepared by all 131 cities and implemented by Urban Local Bodies to achieve the programme’s goals.
• Financial Support: Performance-based financial support is mobilized from various Central schemes. Around ₹20,000 crores have been earmarked for these cities till FY 2025-26 under NCAP.