Union Minister for Environment Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav in his inaugural address to the meeting of National Apex Committee under National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), today highlighted the importance of the implementation of NCAP and emphasised coordinated actions from the Union Government, State Governments and Union Territory Administrations, Urban Local Bodies and State Pollution Control Boards for taking air quality improvement measures.

The Union Minister appreciated the performance of 95 cities which have improved air quality and 20 cities which met the National Ambient Air Quality Standard in FY 2021-22 under the Programme. He spoke on the significance of Airshed approach adopted in Indo-Gangetic Plain and stressed on the need for regional cooperation to address the issue of air pollution.

Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey congratulated the nine cities viz. Lucknow, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Moradabad, Firozabad, Amravati, Dewas, Sunder Nagar and Nalagarh that have received cash award under Swacchh Vayu Sarvekshan conducted for FY 2022-23. He urged all cities to take air quality improvement measures and participate in the ranking framework. He requested States/Union Territories to submit proposals under Nagar Van Yojana and AMRUT for increasing the green cover in NCAP cities.

During the meeting the importance of Mission LiFE launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for taking citizen centric actions to protect and conserve environment was emphasised. It was stated that on 15^th August 2020, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi assuring Government’s commitment to ensure clean air to all the people of the country, announced the intent and plan to improve the air quality in more than 100 cities through holistic approach.

Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change informed that Rs.8915 Crore have been provided from 2019-20 to 2022-23 for taking air quality improvement measures in 131 cities for achieving the prescribed annual air pollution reduction targets. 24 States/Union Territories and 131 Cities/Urban Local Bodies under NCAP have been requested to incorporate relevant actions of Mission LiFE in State and City Action Plans for improvement of air quality.

The Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) on 10^th January, 2019 as a national-level strategy outlining the actions for reducing the levels of air pollution at city and regional scales in the Country. The Programme aims to systemically address air pollution by engaging all stakeholders and ensuring necessary action. 131 non-attainment and million plus cities have been identified for the implementation of the city specific action plans under this Programme. The Programme focuses on preparation and implementation of national level action plan, state level action plans & city level action plans of the targeted 131 cites.

NCAP targets to achieve reduction in Particulate Matter (PM10) levels up to 40% or achievement of national standards (60 microgram/cubic meter) by 2025-26 in targeted 131 cities of 24 States. Further, States/UTs have been requested to mobilise the resources from convergence of various Schemes of Union Government for improving air quality.

The following Union Ministries have presented the Schemes launched by the Government of India for taking measures to improvement of air quality.

1. Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs on convergence of schemes (SBM 2.0, Smart City Mission and AMRUT) in 131 targeted cities.
2. Ministry of Heavy Industries on implementation of FAME-II/EV mobility in 131 targeted cities.
3. Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on status of implementation of SATAT and City Gas Distribution Network in 131 targeted cities.
4. Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL) on Electric Mobility.
5. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board (NAEB) on Nagar Van Yojana  in 131 targeted cities.
6. Ministry of Power on status of installation of Flue-Gas Desulfurization and pollution control measures for new emissions norms and National Mission on use of Biomass in TPPs near 131 targeted cities.
7. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on phasing out of old vehicles and implementation of vehicle scrapping policy in 131 targeted cities.
8. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on implementation of NCAP.

State Governments of Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra also presented the progress of implementation of Clean Air Action Plans and various activities under NCAP.

States were requested to convene regular meetings of Steering Committees, State Level Monitoring and Implementation Committee and City Implementation Committee for effective implementation of the Programme. All cities have been requested to upload action plans and progress reports on PRANA portal.

The National Apex Committee under National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) was convened to review the implementation of NCAP under the co-chairmanship of Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav and Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey.

Representatives of eight Union Ministries viz. Ministry of Raod Transport  and Highways, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Ministry of Power, Ministry of Heavy Industries, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Department of Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and representatives from Central Pollution Control Board, Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas, Chief Secretaries, Additional Chief Secretaries/ Principal Secretaries, Environment Department, Chairman of State Pollution Control Boards / Pollution Control Committees of 24 States/Union Territories and 131 Municipal Commissioners representing cities covered under NCAP were present during the meeting.

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(Release ID: 1907272) Visitor Counter : 2019