National Clean Air Programme- Features, Cities, NGT’s Directives

The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) is a pollution-control strategy that was launched with the primary purpose of lowering coarse & fine particulate matter concentrations in the atmosphere. The program’s objectives are to extend the nationwide air quality monitoring system, build air pollution management capacity, & increase public awareness about the dangers of air pollution. The NCAP also aspires to establish a workable plan for air pollution prevention, management, and control.

Features Of NCAP-  National Clean Air Programme 

• The NCAP’s major goal is to achieve a 20-30% decrease in PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations at the national level between 2017 & 2024.
• To ensure that strict mitigation measures for air pollution prevention, control, & abatement are implemented
• To improve and expand the country’s air quality monitoring network in order to ensure a comprehensive and trustworthy database.
• The Centre also intends to expand the air quality monitoring system across India as part of the scheme. According to an estimate, at least 4,000 real-time air quality (AQ) monitors are needed around the country, rather than the current 101.
• To improve public awareness & capacity-building initiatives, such as data distribution & public outreach activities, in order to ensure inclusive public engagement & educated manpower & infrastructure on air pollution.
• It also calls for state-level e-mobility strategies in the two-wheeler sector, as well as quick expansion of charging infrastructure, strict adherence to BS-VI standards, increased use of public transit, & the adoption of third-party audits for polluting sectors.
• In addition to substantial plantation plans, clean-technology research, landscaping of main arterial highways, & rigorous industrial standards, the plan proposes a three-tier system in all 122 cities, which includes real-time physical data gathering, data storage, and an action trigger system.
• One of the key goals is to establish what efforts are being made around the country to address the air pollution problem.
• Creating a good balance with existing policies & programmes, such as the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) 
• Initiatives to raise awareness & create capacity are prioritised.
• Development of city-specific action plans, which will include actions to improve the monitoring network, minimise vehicular/industrial emissions, and raise public awareness, among other things.
• Creating certification bodies for monitoring equipment, conducting source apportionment studies, focusing on enforcement, and implementing specialised sectoral interventions and so on.
• Steering, Monitoring, & Implementation Committees at the national and state levels will oversee the progress of city-specific action plans on a regular basis.
• Promoting collaborative, multi-scale, & cross-sectoral cooperation among appropriate federal ministries, state governments, & local authorities.
• Constant change, activity, & progress based on new scientific and technical information as it becomes available;
• Raising the number of monitoring stations throughout the country, especially remote monitoring stations, & providing technical assistance.

Cities That Fall Under NCAP

The National Clean Air Programme is a pollution-control project initiated by the Ministry of the environment with the goal of reducing coarse concentrations by at least 20% in the following five years, using 2017 as the baseline year. Under NCAP, 122 non-attainment cities have been identified across the country based on the Air Quality data from 2014-2018.  A list of Smart Cities under the Smart Cities Mission, which are non-attainment cities under National Clean Air Program (NCAP). The state of Maharashtra has the most cities selected for the programme.

National Clean Air Programme Evaluation

Experts believe that progress toward reaching the goals set out in this programme is slow. Even at the program’s inception, there was widespread criticism that the goals stated weren’t legally binding. Even if the NCAP’s debut is a move in the right direction, the program’s proper implementation is critical to meeting the program’s goals.

 For this to happen, there must be solid collaboration among all stakeholders &, more crucially, strong political will. Air pollution is no more a hidden adversary; its detrimental impacts are felt every day in many places around the country.

NGT’s Directives To NACP

• To shorten the time frame – As part of the NACP, the ministry suggested reducing air pollution by 20-30% by 2024; the NGT has directed that this be done.
• Instead of a 20-30% reduction in air pollution, the objective percentage should be raised.
• To conduct an assessment of the public transportation system’s intensification, road mechanical cleaning, & public parking facility enhancements.
• Within six months, state pollution control boards must evaluate and install Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Systems.
• Within two months, the Central Pollution Control Board will develop a model for source apportionment & carrying capacity evaluation that can be duplicated for all non-attainment cities.

Key Recommendations To Improve National Clean Air Programme

• Key indicators that may be tracked to track the effect of the intervention must be identified by responsible entities.
• Air quality management should shift from a city-centric to an airshed-centric approach. This strategy necessitates a system for inter-state collaboration, which can be helped by establishing regional airshed management authorities with cross-state jurisdiction.
• Require that emission & pollution loads be updated on a regular basis. This will automatically fill in the gaps in information that will assist in planning, tracking progress, & evaluating the effects of actions.
• Greater fiscal independence for urban local governments is needed to maintain the infrastructure required to preserve air quality advantages.
• Define duties for each proposed measure among cooperating agencies, including planning, executing, enforcing, and monitoring, to prevent overlaps.

We hope you found the information on the National Clean Air Programme useful.

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