Question : National Clean Air Programme

(a) the number and the details of nonattainment cities that have formally introduced the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP);
(b) whether there has been any tangible progress achieved in these cities and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the programme has not yet been implemented in some cities and if so, the reasons therefor;
(d) whether the Government plans to extend the programme to more cities in the near future and if so, the details thereof; and
(e) whether the Government plans to increase the budget to align with the ambitions/objectives/targets under the programme, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a)to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

***

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARA (a), (b), (c), (d) & (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. * 262 ON NATIONAL CLEAN AIR PROGRAMME DUE FOR REPLY ON 6.12.2019

(a)to (e): The Central Government launched National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) as a long-term, time-bound, national level strategy to tackle the air pollution problem across the country in a comprehensive manner with targets to achieve 20 % to 30 % reduction in PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations by 2024 keeping 2017 as the base year for the comparison of concentration. Under NCAP, 102 non-attainment cities have been identified based on ambient air quality data for the period 2011 – 2015 and WHO report 2014/2018. The city specific Action Plans which inter- alia includes measures for strengthening the monitoring network, reducing vehicular/industrial emissions, increasing public awareness etc.have been prepared and approved for ground implementation for all 102 non-attainment cities. The list of 102 Non-attainment cities is at Annexure I.

For the cities with million plus population and PM10>90µg/m³, MoEF&CC has earmarked ?10 Crores in the current year for various components that inter-alia includes Installation and commissioning of CAAQMS, Creating green buffer zone along the roads, Mechanical street sweeper, Mobile Enforcement Unit, Public awareness and capacity building activities, Water sprinkler. For the cities with population, less than 5 lakhs, funds of ?10 lakhs per city has been allocated and for cities with a population of 5 to10 lakhs, ?20 lakhs per city has been allocated.Further, under NCAP, Committees at State level namely Steering Committee headed by Chief Secretary of the State; Monitoring Committee headed by Pr. Secretary (Environment) of the State Government; and Implementation Committee headed by either District Magistrate or Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation have been constituted for implementation and monitoring of the city specific action plans to reduce air pollution.


***