National Clean Air Programme

95 out of the 132 polluted cities identified under a national programme on clean air have shown improvement in air quality by reducing Particulate Matter (PM10) concentration in 2021-22 compared to 2017.

Details –

• 95 out of the 132 polluted cities identified under a national programme on clean air have shown improvement in air quality by reducing Particulate Matter (PM10) concentration in 2021-22 compared to 2017.
• Varanasi has recorded the highest reduction (53%) in the level of hazardous pollutant during the period.
• The report has mentioned that 20 of the 95 cities have even conformed to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) that put acceptable annual average limit of PM10 at 60 micrograms per cubic meter.

Concerns –

• Meanwhile, a think-tank named Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has flagged limitations of such city-based approach.
• The CSE warned that the existing clean air action plans that draw hard boundaries around cities for the clean-up job are failing to address the major pollution sources in the larger orbit.

About the ‘National Clean Air Programme’ –

• National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), launched in 2019, is India’s flagship program for better air quality.
• It was launched as a long-term, time-bound, national level strategy to tackle the air pollution problem across the country in a comprehensive manner.
• Goal — 20% to 30% reduction in Particulate Matter concentrations by 2024 keeping 2017 as the base year.
• Under NCAP, 132 non-attainment cities have been identified across the country based on the Air Quality data from 2014-2018.
  • • Non-attainment cities are those that have fallen short of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for over five years.
• Nodal Ministry — Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

About the ‘National Ambient Air Quality Standards’ –

• Ambient air quality refers to the condition or quality of air surrounding us in the outdoors.
• Under the authority of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1981, India’s Central Pollution Control Board sets national ambient air quality standards.
• The current National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) include following pollutants — Sulphur Dioxide (SO2); Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2); Particulate Matter (size less than 10 µm); Particulate Matter (size less than 2.5 µm); Ozone (O3); Lead (Pb); Carbon Monoxide (CO); Ammonia (NH3); Benzene (C6H6); Benzo(a)Pyrene (BaP)- particulate phase only; Arsenic (As); Nickel (Ni).

About the ‘National Air Quality Index’ –

• It was launched in October 2014 to disseminate information on air quality in an easily understandable form for the general public.
• The measurement of air quality is based on eight pollutants, namely, PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, CO, O3, NH3, and Pb.

About the ‘Particulate Matter’ –

• Particulate matter is the sum of all solid and liquid particles suspended in air many of which are hazardous.
• This complex mixture includes both organic and inorganic particles, such as dust, pollen, soot, smoke, and liquid droplets.
• These particles vary greatly in size, composition, and origin.
• PM 10 —
  • • Also known as coarse particles, PM10 is defined as all particles with an aerodynamic diameter of 10 μm or smaller.
    • Coarse particles, while not as dangerous as fine particles, can still pose a significant health threat.
    • These particles can penetrate into our lungs and irritate airways, nose, throat, and eyes.
    • PM10 is usually created directly, with sources like construction work, road dust, or natural dust storms, rather than secondary, atmospheric sources.
• PM 2.5 —
  • • Also known as fine particles, PM2.5 is a grouping of particles with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 μm or less.
    • It is capable of penetrating deep into the lungs and even entering the bloodstream.
    • Fine particles can come from natural or human-made sources, like —
      • Vehicle exhaust, Wildfires, Power plant emissions, Other combustion activities.