Indian megacities lag in air pollution control despite lion’s share of financial support

Indian megacities lag in air pollution control despite lion’s share of financial support

Sub: Env

Sec: Pollution

Context:

• The Swachh Vayu Survekshan 2024 (Clean Air Study), recently published by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, has highlighted the disappointing performance of India’s megacities, where millions of people reside.

About Swachh Vayu Survekshan (SVS):

• Swachh Vayu Survekshan 2024 (Clean Air Study) ranked 130 cities based on their air quality improvement efforts.
• Objective:
  • To create awareness among all sections of the society
  • Inform citizens about the health impacts related due to exposure
  • Comparing air quality conditions at different locations/cities
  • To achieve the goal of NCAP “Clean air for all”.
• Criteria:
  • Category 1: Population: 10 lakh + (No. of Cities: 47)
  • Category 2: Population: 3-10 lakh (No. of Cities: 43)
  • Category 3: Population: Under 3 lakh (No. of Cities: 40)
• Evaluation Process:
  • Based on self-assessment reports from urban local bodies
  • Vetted by state Air Quality Monitoring Committees
  • Final evaluation by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
• Ranking Criteria:
  • Uses the PRANA (Portal for Regulation of Air Pollution in Non-Attainment Cities) dashboard
  • Assesses control measures across 8 sectors:
    • Biomass and municipal solid waste burning (20%)
    • Road dust (20%)
    • Vehicular emissions (20%)
    • Industrial emissions (20%)
    • Construction and demolition dust (5%)
    • PM10 concentration improvements (2.5%)
    • Public awareness activities (2.5%)
    • Other emissions control (10%)

Key outcome of 2024 report:

• Major cities performed poorly despite receiving significant funding.
• Ranking of Major Cities:
  • Delhi: 11th place (best among major cities)
  • Bengaluru: 28th place
  • Mumbai: 32nd place
  • Kolkata: 41st place
  • Chennai: 46th place (worst among major cities)
• Top Performing Cities:

• These cities are being awarded for their significant improvements in air quality, achieved through the adoption of various best practices aimed at mitigating air pollution.
• Some of the key activities they implemented include:
  • End-to-end paving on roads
  • Promoting mechanical sweeping
  • Bioremediation of legacy waste
  • C & D and solid waste management
  • Nagar Vatika from reclaimed land of dumpsite
  • Greenbelt development
  • Intelligent traffic management system
  • Miyawaki forestation
• Funding and Utilization:
  • Total allocation: Rs 11,211 crore for air pollution control
  • Six major cities received Rs 3,285 crore (30% of total)
  • Average fund utilization: about 60%
  • Bengaluru: lowest utilization at 22%
  • Chennai: highest utilization, almost 100%
• Challenges for Major Cities:
  • Limited improvement despite varying fund utilization
  • Slight increases in PM10 levels in Delhi, Bengaluru, and Chennai
  • Marginal improvements in other cities

National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)

Overview The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India has launched National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in January, 2019 as a long-term, time-bound, national level strategy to tackle the air pollution problem across the country in a comprehensive manner. The NCAP targets to achieve 20% to 30% reduction in concentrations of PM10(particulate matter of diameter between 10 and 2.5 micrometer) and PM2.5(particulate matter of diameter 2.5 micrometer or less) by the year 2024, keeping 2017 as the base year for comparison of concentration

The aims of the NCAP are

1. To ensure stringent implementation of mitigation measures for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution.
2. To augment and evolve effective and proficient ambient air quality monitoring network across the country for ensuring a comprehensive and reliable database.
3. To augment public awareness and capacity-building measures encompassing data dissemination and public outreach programmes for inclusive public participation and for ensuring trained manpower and infrastructure on air pollution.