The Central Pollution Control Board recently announced the winners for the Swachh Vayu Survekshan 2023. This survey, quite notable in its scope, was focused on determining the levels of air pollution across different urban locales.
An important aspect to note is the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies. This special day happens on the 7th of September each year with the aim to enhance the public’s awareness about the importance of clean air. The UN General Assembly established this event back in 2019. For the upcoming 4th International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, the theme has been set as “Together for Clean Air.”
A Deeper Look into the Findings of SVS 2023
The key findings from the Swachh Vayu Survekshan (SVS) 2023 provide a clear insight into the progress made by numerous cities in achieving cleaner air. SVS, an initiative by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), ranks cities based on air quality and implementation of activities under NCAP in 131 non-attainment cities.
Cities that don’t meet the NAAQS for PM10 or NO2 consistently over a five-year period are declared non-attainment. The ranking has taken the 2011 population census into account.
How were the Cities Assessed?
The participating cities were assessed on eight key points such as control of biomass, the burning of municipal solid waste, road dust, dust from construction and demolition waste, vehicular emissions, industrial emissions, public awareness, and improvement in PM10 concentration.
The top performers included Indore, Agra, Thane, Amravati, Moradabad, and Guntur, while Madurai, Howrah, Jamshedpur, Jammu, Guwahati, Jalandhar, and Kohima fell behind.
The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP): Aiming for Cleaner Skies
Launched by the MoEFCC, the NCAP is a national-level strategy that aims to lower levels of air pollution in India. The programme seeks to enforce necessary actions to improve air quality in more than 100 cities through a comprehensive approach.
The NCAP’s ambitious target is a 20% reduction of coarse (PM10) and fine particles (PM2.5) in the next five years. The ‘PRANA’ portal has been set up for monitoring the implementation of NCAP, action plans, implementation statuses, and for sharing best practices adopted by different cities.
Other Initiatives Promoting Cleaner Air
Several other initiatives are also in place to ensure cleaner air in our cities. These include the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, the Statutory Commission for Air Quality Management for Delhi-NCR, Graded Response Action Plan for Delhi, the Polluter Pay principle, the introduction of BS-VI vehicles, and the SAFAR Dashboard for Monitoring Air Quality.
Addressing Air Quality Concerns: Practice Questions for UPSC Civil Services Examination
Including practical strategy formation, clear understanding, and systemic tackling of air pollution problems form an integral part of the UPSC civil services examination syllabus. Two potential prelims questions from previous year examinations relating to WHO Air Quality Guidelines and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) have been provided to aid with the preparations.
A potential mains question focused on the disparity in air pollution levels among Mumbai, Delhi, and Kolkata, which are India’s three megacities. This question encourages students to explore systemic biases in air pollutant levels across different geographical locations.
