In the light of recent events, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change celebrated the first-ever International Day of Clean Air For Blue Skies by hosting a webinar. The United Nations General Assembly has mandated that the 7th of September be recognized for this event on an annual basis beginning in 2020. This commemorative day aims to underline the essential connection between air quality and environmental sustainability, while also increasing public consciousness regarding air pollution.
The Indian Government’s Approach towards Air Pollution
The government of India has taken various steps towards controlling the high level of air pollution in the 122 most polluted cities of the country. One such initiative is the enforcement of the Air Quality Index (AQI) in 2014. Currently, it measures the pollution level based on eight parameters: ground-level ozone, Particulate Matter (PM) 10, PM 2.5, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, ammonia, and lead. Ground-level ozone and airborne particles are identified as the most harmful pollutants affecting human health in India.
In his Independence day speech, the Prime Minister underscored the critical issue of air pollution and proposed an objective for a comprehensive improvement in air quality in 100 cities through detailed micro-plans targeting pollution hotspots.
Moreover, a brochure detailing Integrated Measures to Combat Air Pollution under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) was unveiled during the webinar. Launched in January 2019, the NCAP aims to address air pollution in a comprehensive manner and targets a 20-30% reduction in PM 10 and PM 2.5 concentrations by 2024, with 2017 considered as the base year.
Additionally, India has adopted BS-VI standards, also known as Bharat Stage (BS), for quality petrol and diesel as fuel in an attempt to mitigate pollution. These emission standards, which regulate the output of air pollutants from internal combustion engine vehicles, were instituted by the Government of India.
Moving forward, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) will be responsible for implementing these standards.
Suggestions for Further Improvement
In order to achieve more substantial results, state governments are encouraged to formulate city-specific plans since the source of pollution tends to vary from one city to another. Identifying pollution hotspots within these cities can provide valuable data to allocate funds for targeted pollution control measures.
Promotion and encouragement of electric vehicle use along with modernisation of public transport systems could also play a significant role in reducing air pollution. Improvements in waste management infrastructure, dust-free roads, and enforcing strict norms for industries to transition to cleaner fuels are also suggested.
Aiming for a cleaner environment also requires active public participation. Encouraging practices such as car-pooling and the usage of public transport systems could contribute significantly to the cause.
By implementing these measures effectively, we can anticipate a future with cleaner air and bluer skies. Despite the progress made so far, there is still much that needs to be done, and the challenge is to maintain the momentum towards this goal.
Source: PIB
