The National Clean Air Campaign (NCAP) was launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in January 2019. This program marked the first-ever effort in India to create a national framework for managing air quality with a time-bound reduction target.
The NCAP aims to reduce the concentration of coarse particles (PM10) and fine particles (PM2.5) by a minimum of 20% over the next five years, using data from 2017 as a comparison. The campaign includes 132 non-attainment cities which were identified by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). These cities have failed to meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for more than five years.
The NAAQS are standards for ambient air quality with reference to various identified pollutants notified by the CPCB under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. These pollutants include PM10, PM2.5, SO2, NO2, CO, NH3, Ozone, Lead, Benzene, Benzo-Pyrene, Arsenic, and Nickel.
Setting Targets for Air Quality Improvement
The current annual average prescribed limits for PM2.5 and PM10 in India are 40 micrograms/per cubic metre (ug/m3) and 60 micrograms/per cubic metre, respectively. The initial target of the NCAP was to reduce key air pollutants PM10 and PM2.5 by 20-30% by 2024, based on pollution levels recorded in 2017. However, in September 2022, the Centre revised this target to a 40% reduction in particulate matter concentration by 2026.
Cities were required to demonstrate improvement starting from 2020-21, which necessitated a 15% or greater reduction in the annual average PM10 concentration and a concurrent increase in clean air quality days to at least 200.
Assessing the Effectiveness of NCAP
A performance analysis of the NCAP by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) found that only 38 of the 131 cities that signed agreements with the Centre, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), and State Pollution Control Boards met their annual pollution reduction targets. On the other hand, 37 cities completed the source apportionment studies, which quantified significant sources of pollution but did not make these reports publicly available nor update city action plans with the findings.
The CREA estimates that India will need to install over 300 manual air quality monitoring stations per year to reach the 1,500 monitoring stations goal set by NCAP by 2024. To date, only 180 stations have been installed.
The Impact of NCAP on Pollution Reduction
The NCAP Tracker, a joint initiative by two organizations in air pollution policy, monitors progress towards achieving the 2024 clean air targets. In 2022, Delhi, one of the non-attainment cities, had the highest level of pollution. However, Delhi’s PM2.5 levels improved by over 7% compared to 2019. Nine out of the ten most polluted cities in 2019 reduced their PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations by 2022.
Still, 16 NCAP cities and 15 non-NCAP cities showed significant increases in their annual PM2.5 levels, suggesting that pollution was equally likely in both NCAP and non-NCAP cities, pointing to the limited effectiveness of the NCAP.
Initiatives Taken to Control Air Pollution
Several initiatives have been implemented to control air pollution, including the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) Portal, the Air Quality Index for eight pollutants, and the Graded Response Action Plan for Delhi.
Additionally, measures have been put in place to reduce vehicular pollution, such us introducing BS-VI Vehicles, promoting the use of Electric Vehicles (EVs), implementing the Odd-Even Policy in Delhi, and the establishment of a new Commission for Air Quality Management. Assistance is also provided to farmers for purchasing Turbo Happy Seeder (THS) Machine to reduce stubble burning. The National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP) has identified four air pollutants viz. SO2, NO2, PM10, and PM2.5 for regular monitoring at all locations.
The Way Forward
India needs to change its approach to improve air quality and reduce pollutants to levels considered acceptable by the World Health Organisation (WHO). This involves not only tackling specific sources of air pollution but also ensuring close coordination across local and national jurisdictional boundaries. Regional cooperation can help execute cost-effective joint strategies that take advantage of the interdependent nature of air quality.
