(a) the total fund released to State Pollution Control Boards under the National Clean Air Programme during the last three years, State/UT-wise;
(b) the details of programmes organized by the State Pollution Control Boards by utilizing the said fund, State/UT-wise;
(c) whether pollution levels in States has reduced after the implementation of the said programme; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)
(a) and (b) 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.
Funds to the tune of Rs.336.98 Crores has been released to the State Pollution Control Boards under the NCAP for activities identified under the approved city action plan by stakeholders. The year wise break up of funds is given below:
Year 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21
Funds released in Crores 1.06 224.92 111
(c) and (d) Ambient air quality in the country is monitored through a network of manual and continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations. The Ambient air quality trend of cities in 5 years (2015-2019) is as follows:
SO2
• All cities except one comply with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards of SO2. (Except in Dehradun, as more stringent norms are applicable for Eco Sensitive Zones.)
• All the cities exhibited decreasing trend.
No2
• 39 cities exhibited decreasing trend, 24 cities showed increasing trend and 231 cities have steady or fluctuating trend.
• Most of the cities comply with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards of NO2.
PM10
• 23 cities show decreasing trend; 239 cities show a fluctuating trend & 38 cities showed an increasing trend.
PM2.5
11 cities showed decreasing trend; 79 cities show a fluctuating trend & 9 cities showed an increasing trend.
****