India launches Anti – Pollution program to reduce Dangerous pollution levels in more than one hundred cities

Plan drew immediate criticism from environmentalists – lacking clear framework

A.  India on 10th January, 2019 launched anti pollution program to reduce in dangerous pollution levels in more than a hundred cities that the government said it expected to improve air quality gradually and significantly.

B.  Immediately after the program launched, various environmentalists criticized that the program is lacking in a wide range frame work to tackle toxicity levels that have led to millions of deaths.

C.  The National Clean Air Program a five-year action plan with 2019 as the first year. The main aim of the program would be 20-30% reduction of PM2.5 and PM10 concentration by 2024. The program presently launched with an initial budget of ₹300 crore for the first two years.

D.  The plan includes 102 non-attainment cities, across 23 states and Union territories, which were identified by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on the basis of their ambient air quality data between 2011 and 2015.

E.  The launch of this program was stalled due to bureaucratic hassle but it is launched now due to residents of the capital, home to more than 20 million people, have struggled to breathe under thick smog. Last week pollution raised to “emergency” levels, as the Central Pollution Control Board’s air quality index of poisonous particulate matter hit 440, more than 12 times the US government’s recommended limit.

National Clean Air Program (National Anti – Pollution Program)

A. The program is to meet the prescribed annual average ambient air quality standards at all locations in the country in a stipulated timeframe.

B. The plan aims to push through cuts in industrial emissions and vehicular exhaust fumes, introduce stringent rules for transport fuels and biomass burning and reduce dust pollution. It will also upgrade and increase monitoring systems.

C. The National Clean Air Program (NCAP) aims to cut pollution in the 102 worst affected cities by 20-30 percent by 2024.

D. The program ensure the efficient data dissemination and public outreach mechanism for timely measures for prevention and mitigation of air pollution and for inclusive public participation in both planning and implementation of the program and policies of government on air pollution.

E. The plan proposes a three-tier system, including real-time physical data collection, data archiving, and an action trigger system in all 102 cities, besides extensive plantation plans, research on clean-technologies, landscaping of major arterial roads, and stringent industrial standards.

F. The program also proposes state-level plans of e-mobility in the two-wheeler sector, rapid augmentation of charging infrastructure, stringent implementation of BS-VI norms, boosting public transportation system, and adoption of third-party audits for polluting industries.

G. The program will scale up the air quality monitoring network across India. At least 4,000 monitors are needed across the country, instead of the existing 101 real-time air quality (AQ) monitors.
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