Question : National Clean Air Programme

(a) whether the Government has failed to improve the air quality in the country even after implementing number of projects, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(b) the purpose and scope of National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) along with the number of cities in which the said programme is being implemented to reduce pollution level along with achievement made since its inception;
(c) whether there have been demands to include more cities under the programme and if so, the details thereof along with the action taken thereon;
(d) whether the Government has monitored and assessed the performance of NCAP and if so, the outcome of the assessment;
(e) whether the Government has achieved the objective for which NCAP was launched and if so, the details thereof and if not, the corrective steps taken in this regard;
(f) Whether any international organisation has also been associated with the said programme and if so, the details thereof; and
(g) whether any steering Committee has also been constituted for proper running of NCAP and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a)to (g) National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) was launched by the Ministry of Environment Forest &Climate Change (MoEF&CC) in January 2019 as a long-term, time-bound, national level strategy making determined efforts to deal with the air pollution problem across the country in a comprehensive manner. The objective of the NCAP is comprehensive mitigation actions for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution.Measures taken by the government for air quality management are at Annexure I.

Under NCAP, it has been envisaged to achieve targets of 20 to 30 % reduction in Particulate Matter concentration by 2024 across the country. The NCAP is implemented in 132 cities in the country.

There has been an overall improvement in Particulate Matter10 (PM10) concentration in 95 cities including 20 cities conforming to the National Ambient Air Quality Standard in the year 2021-22as compared to 2017.Details are provided at Annexure II.

NCAP covers Non-Attainment Cities (NACSs) wherein National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) is exceeded for 5 consecutive years. Under NCAP, 124 cities identified as NACs and 8 other million plus cities of Fifteenth Finance Commission- Million Plus Cities Challenge Fund are covered.

Under NCAP, the international organizations have been engaged to provide technical assistance. The details of cities in which international organisations are engaged for technical assistance under NCAPare provided at Annexure III.

Under NCAP, Apex Committee, Steering Committee, Monitoring Committee and Implementation Committee at Central level have been constituted for effective implementation of NCAP. Also Steering Committee and Implementation Committee at State level, and Implementation and Monitoring Committee at City level have been constituted for monitoring of action plans.

***