The Central Government of India has identified 102 cities under the National Clean Air Program for their high pollution levels. So far, only 73 of these cities have submitted a plan to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to rectify the situation. This initiative began with the Clean Air Campaign which launched in Delhi on February 10-23, 2018, and was later extended to about 100 ‘non-attainment cities.’
The Non-Attainment Cities and the National Clean Air Programme
Non-attainment cities are those that have failed to meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for five or more years. These cities were identified by the CPCB and tasked with implementing 42 strategies to reduce air pollution as part of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). The NCAP was introduced to address air pollution on a national scale with the aim of consistently meeting ambient air quality standards across the country.
The Objectives of the National Clean Air Programme
The NCAP has several key objectives. It aims to establish an effective and efficient ambient air quality monitoring network and encourages public participation in both the planning and implementation of government policies on air pollution. Additionally, it plans to create a comprehensive strategy for preventing, controlling, and mitigating air pollution.
Major Initiatives under the National Clean Air Programme
Several initiatives have been launched under the NCAP. One such initiative is to expand the air quality monitoring network. Plans include setting up 1,000 manual monitoring stations in 303 cities from the current 691 stations, and establishing 50 stations in rural areas that have not been covered under the National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP). Furthermore, a 10-city Super Network is proposed to capture the impact of interventions, trends, and other metrics to reflect the nation’s air quality dynamics.
The NCAP will also introduce an Air Quality Forecasting System (AQFS) which will predict the next day’s air quality, and set up an Air Information Center responsible for data analysis, interpretation and dissemination. A three-tier system will also be implemented for monitoring, assessment and inspection for implementation.
The National Emission Inventory and Technology Assessment Cell
The National Emission Inventory is an account of the amount of pollutants discharged into the atmosphere. It contains total emissions of one or more specific air pollutants from all source categories in a certain area within a specified timeframe. On the other hand, the Technology Assessment Cell (TAC) will evaluate technologies relevant to the prevention, control and abatement of pollution.
Additional Initiatives and the National Ambient Air Quality Standards
The NCAP will also undertake other initiatives such as revising ambient air quality and emission standards, promoting international cooperation, spreading awareness, supporting technology, managing indoor air pollution and conducting health impact studies, among other things.
National Ambient Air Quality Standards are the reference standards for ambient air quality with regards to various identified pollutants. These standards have been established by the Central Pollution Control Board under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. The list of pollutants under NAAQs includes PM10, PM2.5, SO2, NO2, CO, NH3, Ozone, Lead, Benzene, Benzo-Pyrene, Arsenic, and Nickel.
