Latest news with #CleanAirActionPlan
Time of India
01-08-2025
- General
- Time of India
Derabassi rated most polluted city in region, 9th worst in country
1 2 Mohali: Derabassi, a town in Punjab located barely 20 km from Chandigarh, emerged as the most polluted city in the entire region of Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh. More alarmingly, it now ranks ninth among India's worst cities in terms of air quality deterioration, according to data tabled in the Lok Sabha under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). Responding to a query raised by MPs Anil Yeshwant Desai and Babu Singh Kushwaha, minister of state Kirti Vardhan Singh informed the House that while 103 out of 130 cities covered under NCAP showed improvement in PM10 levels since the programme's launch in January 2019, Derabassi showed a significant deterioration. The data reveals that the average PM10 concentration in Derabassi increased from 88 µg/m3 in 2017–18 to 98 µg/m3 in 2024–25, registering an 11.4% rise. This makes Derabassi the worst-performing city in the region and places it among the bottom ten cities nationwide. Only eight cities across India fared worse, with Aurangabad recording the sharpest increase of 33.4% in PM10 levels. Chandigarh, despite its status as a well-planned city, showed no improvement over the years, with PM10 levels stagnating at 114 µg/m3, indicating a lack of progress in implementing air quality measures. In contrast, cities such as Jalandhar, Amritsar, and Khanna have shown the most improvement in Punjab. Jalandhar saw a 44.4% drop in PM10 levels, from 178 µg/m3 in 2017–18 to 99 µg/m3 in 2024–25. Amritsar followed with a 40.7% reduction (from 189 to 112 µg/m3), while Khanna recorded a 28.9% improvement (from 142 to 101 µg/m3). Launched in 2019, the NCAP aims to reduce air pollution levels in 130 non-attainment cities across India, including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata. Under the programme, each city was required to prepare and implement a Clean Air Action Plan addressing major pollution sources such as vehicular emissions, construction and demolition activities, road dust, waste burning, and industrial pollutants. Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh also clarified that air quality data across cities and countries cannot be compared directly due to differences in geography, weather patterns, and national air quality standards. Despite these variations, the data shows that 103 cities showed improvement in PM10 levels between 2017–18 and 2024–25. Of these, 64 cities achieved a reduction of more than 20%, 25 cities recorded a drop of over 40%, and 22 cities managed to meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), maintaining PM10 levels below 60 µg/m3. BAD AIR REPORT CARD City | FY 2017-18 | FY 2024-25 | % Improvement in 2024-25 Vs FY 2017-18 Derabassi | 88 | 98 | -11.4% Chandigarh | 114 | 114 | 0.0% Jalandhar | 178 | 99 | 44.4% Amritsar | 189 | 112 | 40.7% Khanna | 142 | 101 | 28.9% (Figures from National Clean Air Programme - µg/m3)
New Indian Express
29-07-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Hyderabad records 26.4% drop in air pollution in seven years
HYDERABAD: Hyderabad has recorded a 26.4% reduction in air pollution levels over the past seven years, marking a significant improvement under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). The city's average PM10 (particulate matter) concentration fell from 110 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³) in 2017–18 to 81 µg/m³ in 2024–25. However, there has been no improvement in air quality levels in the city during the year 2024–25. Hyderabad's 26.4% drop places it ahead of Delhi and Chennai in air pollution control over the past seven years, but behind Mumbai and Kolkata. The NCAP was launched in 2019 to address the rising air pollution in cities that have consistently breached national air quality standards. Hyderabad was identified as a 'non-attainment city', triggering a focused response from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), along with the Telangana State Pollution Control Board (TGPCB), GHMC and other local agencies. Hyd allocated Rs 880 cr to address air pollution A city-specific Clean Air Action Plan was drawn up, aiming to bring down PM10 levels by up to 40% or reach the safe limit of 60 µg/m³ by 2025-26. To support this plan, Hyderabad was allocated Rs 880 crore between 2020 and 2026, from both NCAP and the Fifteenth Finance Commission. As of July 2025, Rs 715.9 crore had been released and Rs 384.33 crore spent. The funds are being used by Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) to implement on-ground measures across sectors such as transport, waste, industry, and public engagement.
Hindustan Times
13-06-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Pune: Study reveals persistent poor air quality between Feb & Apr 2025
A recent study by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), based on data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), has revealed that Pune experienced poor air quality on 57 out of 89 days between February and April 2025. The analysis underscores that PM10 levels — levels of coarse particulate matter originating mainly from road dust and construction activities — consistently exceeded the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) throughout most of this three-month period, particularly in February and March. According to the study published on June 10, the average PM10 concentration stood at 127 µg/m³ in February and 112 µg/m³ in March, both significantly higher than the permissible limit of 100 µg/m³. Although April saw a slight improvement, with average PM10 levels dropping to 94 µg/m³, the figures still marked a year-on-year increase. This trend signals a reversal from earlier improvements which is worrying. In case of PM2.5 — a finer and more hazardous pollutant associated with vehicular emissions, industrial activity, and biomass burning — the monthly averages were within the 60 µg/m³ threshold but remained a matter of concern: 55 µg/m³ in February, 51 µg/m³ in March, and 44 µg/m³ in April. The CREA report warns that prolonged exposure to both PM10 and PM2.5 can have serious health consequences, including respiratory illnesses and cardiovascular complications. Despite several interventions under the city's Clean Air Action Plan and a cumulative expenditure of ₹222 crore under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), Pune has consistently failed to achieve compliance with annual PM10 standards. A six-year trend analysis (2019–2025) presented in the study showed inconsistent but troubling patterns in particulate matter levels. PM2.5 concentrations dropped sharply to 23 µg/m³ in 2020 — likely due to the Covid-19 pandemic-related lockdowns — but spiked to 61 µg/m³ in 2022. Levels improved to 36 µg/m³ in 2024 before rising again to 44 µg/m³ this year. A similar trend was seen for PM10, which fell to 36 µg/m³ in 2020, peaked at 101 µg/m³ in 2022, dropped to 87 µg/m³ in 2024, and rose again to 94 µg/m³ in April 2025. Manoj Kumar, an analyst at CREA, said, 'Despite the investments, we've never met national PM10 standards. This calls for a serious review of local action plans and better accountability in implementation.' Dushyant Bhatia, a member of the Pune Air Action Hub, echoed similar concerns. 'We've worked with local authorities on issues like mobility and solid waste, but the current approach needs a rethink. We need source-level interventions such as improved public transport and a ban on open burning, rather than stop-gap measures like mist cannons, which have limited effectiveness,' Bhatia said. Experts also stressed that with winter approaching — a season typically marked by deteriorating air quality — the city must act swiftly to improve baseline conditions. With infrastructure like the Metro and Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) buses already in place, the focus must shift toward enhancing accessibility and affordability of public transport to reduce dependence on private vehicles. When contacted, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) regional officer J S Salunkhe did not respond. However, in an earlier statement, he acknowledged that PM10 levels continue to exceed safe limits due to construction activity and traffic congestion. He added that action has been initiated against ready-mix plants and that coordination with traffic police is underway to address the issue.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
For first time since 1998, LA-Long Beach ports bid harbor rail services
The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are now accepting proposals from prospective operators of the shortline railroad serving the largest U.S. container gateway. Pacific Harbor Line has provided the service since 1998, the last time the contract was put out for bid. While the two ports are administered by the harbor departments of their respective cities, a single shortline network serves both ports. The operator selected will have to enter into separate operating agreements with each port; those agreements have different requirements. The hubs handled almost 20 million containers in 2024 and have a goal of moving 35% of containers away from the facilities by train under a Clean Air Action Plan. Proposals are due July 28 at 5 p.m. The request for proposals is available the current contract, Pacific Harbor Line, an Anacostia Rail Holdings railroad, operates 19 route miles and 96 track miles, providing neutral service to Class I railroads BNSF and Union Pacific, nine intermodal terminals, and a number of carload customers in and around the two ports. It moves approximately 40,000 carloads with some 190 employees and a fleet of 25 locomotives. One of the possible bidders listed in the RFP is Alameda Belt Line, a joint venture of BNSF and Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP) set up to dispatch intermodal trains on the Alameda Corridor into and out of the port complex. Subscribe to FreightWaves' Rail e-newsletter and get the latest insights on rail freight right in your inbox. Advisory team will drive overhaul of US railroad regulator ITS Logistics report shows surge stressing US rail ramps after tariffs slashed CN continues work to expand capacity and fluidity in Vancouver Southern California international intermodal volume sees weekly decline The post For first time since 1998, LA-Long Beach ports bid harbor rail services appeared first on FreightWaves.
