Latest news with #NationalCleanAirProgramme
India Today
a day ago
- Health
- India Today
Delhi made worthy leaps but why clean air is still a long work in progress
Delhi is not the city that comes to mind with the words 'Clean Air' but rather the abject absence of it. A recent nationwide review of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), has shown that the Delhi administration's multi-pronged actions to crack down on sources of air pollution has covered much ground, yet more remains to be clean air action precedes the NCAP programme. Its early moves were driven by interventions from the Supreme Court and its monitoring body, the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority, established by the top court in dust due to transport is the source of close to 40 per cent of PM (particulate matter) 2.5 pollution. To begin with, Delhi substituted diesel fuel with compressed natural gas (CNG) in its public transport and local commercial transport. Then it put restrictions on entry of trucks; imposed a pollution tax on daily truck entries, diesel fuel sold and diesel cars sold with 2000 cc engines; phased out 10-year-old diesel and 15-year-old petrol vehicles; banned polluting industrial fuels like coal, furnace oil and pet coke; and also closed all coal-based power 2020, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has restricted the entry of pre-Bharat Stage IV inter-state buses; banned diesel generator sets; and initiated hotspot action on dispersed sources. The Delhi government's electric vehicle policy has attained fleet electrification level of 12 per cent. The long-term action on coal and diesel has cumulatively led to major reductions in their consumption and led to reduction of Simultaneously, the city has also worked on management of its construction and demolition waste. Its waste collection process is streamlined, with geo-tagged collection depots, colour-coded skip-hauler bins and smartphone apps that show residents nearest drop-off points. Delhi has the highest recycling capacity in the country of 5,150 tonnes per day. The government has also mandated all public agencies to use recycled even after such extensive action, Delhi still requires another 62 per cent cut in PM2.5 levels to meet the national clean air standards. 'Delhi's multi-sector clean air action so far has been the most diverse, structural and systemic in nature in several cases, and relatively more comprehensive compared to most other cities in the country. While this has helped bend the long-term pollution curve, the clean air target is still way off,' states the CSE the need for urgent action, the report stated that Delhi's case study presents a strong lesson for other cities regarding the scale and speed of change needed. 'The clean air action is still an unfinished agenda in Delhi,' it CSE review focuses on selected case studies from across India that showcase emerging good practices in clean air action in four different sectors: vehicles, industries, solid waste, and construction and demolition waste. But it also lays bare some of the systemic drawbacks that have kept the programme from reaching its full potential. Delhi, Kolkata, Noida, Surat, Kochi, Indore, Srinagar and Bengaluru have been covered in the review shows that while NCAP has helped establish the national air quality management framework with clean air targets, identified the non-attainment cities, and adopted the first-ever performance-linked funding strategy, its interventions have been largely confined to road-dust control, especially in the Indo-Gangetic Plains. Funding available under the programme is not equitably spread across priority measures in the combustion sectors,' said CSE executive director Anumita Delhi, the report highlights the need to address gaps in transport emissions. 'The Electric Bus programme needs to significantly improve service level city-wide. Metro and bus service must be integrated with advanced last-mile connectivity like feeders and paratransit options for seamless journeys,' it says. The electric vehicle policy 2.0 being prepared should have a clear roadmap to achieve the target of 95 per cent fleet electrification by 2030 for zero emission gaps in industrial pollution control, it is stated that the piped natural gas network must be strengthened to ensure 100 per cent coverage of all industrial units. Cost of natural gas pricing must also be kept affordable on a longer term monitoring of industries needs to be strengthened. Management of non-hazardous industrial waste must be implemented to prevent open dumping and burning. It is also recommended to bring industrial units in peripheral and non-conforming areas within the monitoring system and mandate display of consent to operate certificate from Delhi Pollution Control to India Today MagazineMust Watch
The Hindu
5 days ago
- The Hindu
Rachakonda traffic police crush modified motorcycle silencers
The Rachakonda Police have launched a campaign against illegal motorcycle silencer modifications to tackle noise pollution. The special drive has resulted in 2,325 cases being booked and 1,297 illegally modified silencers confiscated. The seized items were publicly destroyed at Uppal Bhagayath in the presence of senior traffic and law and order officials. The move is in line with the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and the Mission LiFE Campaign, both aiming to counter the growing menace of urban pollution and promote sustainable practices. Commissioner G. Sudheer Babu said that the racket around modified silencers not only breaches traffic norms but also aggravates noise and air pollution, posing a serious risk to public health. 'These modifications are more than just a fashion statement for thrill-seeking bikers,' the officer said, adding that they are a threat to every pedestrian and commuter caught off-guard by the roar of an unregulated engine or the blast of a pressure horn. The Commissioner cited multiple studies linking long-term exposure to traffic noise with cardiovascular diseases, particularly among adults and the elderly. Excessive noise is also known to cause respiratory issues, high blood pressure, sleep disturbances, memory problems, and psychological stress. Under Section 190(2) of the Motor Vehicles (MV) Act, bikers caught using modified silencers or pressure horns that exceed 80 decibels face penalties of up to ₹10,000 and imprisonment of up to six months. Workshops and dealers have also been put on notice, with those found fitting illegal silencers may face similar legal action. Citizens are encouraged to report violators and cooperate with the campaign for cleaner air and safer roads.
Deccan Herald
28-05-2025
- Health
- Deccan Herald
Why India fails to improve its air quality standards
Despite a growing number of initiatives generating momentum for improving air quality, meeting the World Health Organization (WHO)'s air quality guidelines remains a steep climb for launched its Air Quality Index (AQI) on September 17, 2014, offering a simple numerical scale to communicate air quality and its health impacts. While the initiative marked a significant step forward, debates continue over the AQI's formulation, highlighting a need for stronger scientific leadership. Around the same period, China was battling a similar air quality crisis. While China moved decisively, India faltered — not due to a lack of scientific understanding, but rather because of insufficient political will. The launch of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in 2019 was a moment of renewed hope. It aimed to cut particulate pollution by 20-30 per cent by 2024 (from 2017 levels), later revised to a more ambitious 40 per cent reduction by 2026. Think-tanks, academic institutions, and civil society rallied behind the mission, and statutory bodies like the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) were created to drive co-ordinated action in the National Capital this institutional push, however, significant and consistent improvements in air quality remain elusive studies are crucial for evaluating policy scenarios and understanding how various interventions impact pollution dynamics. In this context, advanced air quality modelling has emerged as a powerful decision-support studiesHigh-performance air quality models help answer fundamental questions about the sources of pollution in a city, pollution from primary emissions versus secondary chemical formation, and local pollution versus that transported from models enable policymakers to evaluate whether specific interventions — like the shift from BS-IV to BS-VI fuel standards or large-scale initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) (which received an initial investment of ₹800 billion ($9,300 million)) — are likely to produce measurable improvements in air quality, and where those benefits are most likely to be seen.A study published in a leading international journal underscores the gravity of the air pollution crisis in the Indo-Gangetic Plain — one of the world's most densely populated and polluted regions. Annual average PM2.5 concentrations consistently exceed 80 μg/m³, with winter peaks surging to between 150 and 230 μg/m³ — far above safe limits. According to the WHO guidelines, the annual average for PM2.5 should not exceed 5 µg/m³, and 24-hour concentrations should remain below 15 µg/m³ on all but 3-4 days in a year. For PM10, the corresponding limits are 15 µg/m³ annually and 45 µg/m³ in a day. Tackling air pollution in the Indo-Gangetic Plain demands integrated, regional strategies based on the idea of 'airsheds' — analogous to watersheds — that extend well beyond local emissions elevated levels are not driven by local emissions alone. Two major factors contribute to the severity of winter pollution: First, the region experiences a nearly fivefold drop in its ventilation coefficient — a measure of how well the air in a region can 'clean itself' by moving and spreading out pollution. In winter, still air, especially in mountain-ringed areas like the Himalayas — traps pollutants near the ground, worsening air a significant share of secondary PM2.5 forms from precursor gases transported from neighbouring areas. Natural phenomena like temperature inversions, low wind speeds, and the topographical trapping of pollutants often intensify winter pollution levels. Tackling this complex issue demands more than blanket solutions; it requires a nuanced understanding of where air pollution originates, and how it evolves. It is made all the more difficult by geographical diversity, economic pressures, and cross-border assessments suggest that primary emissions account for roughly 38 per cent of PM2.5, while secondary formation, driven by chemical reactions in the atmosphere, contributes about 62 per cent. Biomass burning in the domestic sector is the dominant source of primary particulates, whereas secondary pollutants are largely influenced by industrial processes, power generation, and cross-border transport. Another series of studies conducted for various state governments suggests that without bold, transformative action, India is unlikely to ever meet the air quality guidelines of the WHO. Studies comparing business-as-usual and 'most ambitious' intervention scenarios in cities show that even aggressive policies fall short of the WHO benchmarks. These findings emphasise the magnitude of change required — not incremental tweaks, but systemic shifts in energy use, transport, industry, and waste shifts and solutionsAs scientific and policy discussions around air pollution solutions continue, meaningful implementation ultimately hinges on political will. While evaluating political priorities falls outside the scope of this article, one recent scientific insight offers a practical adjustment that could greatly enhance existing policy. The study proposes a shift in how India approaches air quality management: by dividing the country into nine to 11 regional airsheds, each defined by its unique meteorological and topographical characteristics. Under the current framework of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), 130 non-attainment cities are individually responsible for meeting pollution reduction targets. However, air pollution doesn't respect municipal or state boundaries — it moves with the wind. This phenomenon, known as transboundary pollution, often renders city-specific plans ineffective. The airshed-based approach groups cities that share similar wind and pollution patterns, enabling more co-ordinated and scientifically grounded interventions. For example, the study shows that Delhi's airshed boundaries shift seasonally. In summer, easterly winds carry pollution from Uttar Pradesh into the capital, while in winter, westerly winds bring pollutants from Haryana. Delhi's clean air efforts could be bolstered by co-ordinated action with neighbouring cities like Noida, Ghaziabad, and Meerut. This pattern repeats across India. In Chennai, winter winds transport pollution from inland Tamil Nadu to the coastal city. Mumbai experiences landward pollution flow from industrial zones seasonally. Even relatively cleaner cities like Bengaluru are impacted by emissions drifting in from nearby implementation hurdlesThe message is clear: managing air quality by airshed, not by administrative boundaries, is essential for any realistic and science-driven path toward cleaner air in scientific understanding of India's air pollution crisis has grown substantially in recent years, converting this knowledge into actionable policy continues to be a major hurdle. Implementing an effective airshed-based strategy would require a significant shift in the country's current approach. It would involve restructuring the NCAP to prioritise airshed-level planning, moving beyond city-specific targets; establishing robust interstate co-ordination, especially for cross-jurisdictional airsheds; expanding regulatory efforts to include precursor gases, which play a critical role in the formation of secondary PM2.5, and; developing integrated air quality monitoring systems capable of tracking both primary emissions and the complex chemistry behind secondary pollutant India can achieve the air quality levels recommended by the WHO is not only a scientific question — it is equally a matter of governance and policy commitment. Shivang Agarwal is Technical Fellow, Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development (IGSD), Washington DC. Suresh Ramasubramanya Iyer is Senior Fellow and Area Convenor, Centre for Air Quality Research, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), New Delhi.(This article was first published under Creative Commons by 360info.).(Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author's own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of DH.)
Hindustan Times
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Gururgam's Sec 29 pubs running on diesel gensets under HSPCB scanner
Several high-profile pubs, restaurants, and clubs in Sector 29 are operating illegally, violating a host of environmental and civic norms, despite official action from authorities. The Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) has found multiple outlets functioning without the mandatory Consent to Operate (CTO), and many are still running on banned diesel generators despite having their electricity disconnected. According to officials, over a dozen restaurants, and pubs are in violation of the environmental norms. They added that these violations have caused them to seal six of these establishments. 'Diesel gensets are a serious pollutant, and only CNG-based backup is allowed in non-attainment cities like Gurugram. These outlets are openly flouting rules,' said an HSPCB official, requesting anonymity. Under the National Clean Air Programme, diesel gensets are barred in such zones due to their impact on air quality, officials added. Adding to the violations, several establishments are operating without occupation certificates (OC) issued by the pollution board and lack sewage treatment plants (STPs)—or have only claimed to install them on paper. According to HSPCB officials, solid and liquid waste from kitchens is being dumped in open areas including green belts, parking lots, and even stormwater drains adjacent to Leisure Valley, leading to sanitation hazards and clogged sewer say many of these establishments have been operating without an OC for at least two months. HSPCB regional officer Akansha Tanwar said the department had issued multiple notices and sealed kitchens. 'We have disconnected power in certain outlets and are planning surprise inspections. Anyone found operating illegally will face strict action under the Environmental Protection Act,' she said. 'Sector 29 has become a cesspool of unchecked dumping. You can smell the decay from the main road,' said Rajeev Yadav, a Supreme Court advocate and environmental activist. 'The administration has failed miserably. Expect boats, not cars, to enter the market once the monsoon arrives,' he added. Environmental activist Vaishali Rana echoed similar concerns. 'No pub can get CTO without an OC and an STP—yet they're all running with impunity. What example are we setting for the rest of the city?' she asked. However, pub managers claimed they were pushed into a corner. 'The electricity disconnection has crippled us. We are operating on gensets because we've had zero business for weeks,' said one manager, requesting anonymity. Another added, 'This is peak season. Give us a window to comply instead of abruptly cutting power.' Local RWAs and councillors are now demanding coordinated action. 'You can't have a lawless hospitality zone in the middle of the city,' said Anoop Singh, MCG councillor from Ward 25. 'This is a public health issue.'
Hans India
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Hans India
Complete pending works under nat'l clean air programme swiftly
Anantapur: District Collector Dr Vinod Kumar V on Thursday directed officials to ex-pedite the completion of all pending works under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in the city. The Collector issued these instructions during a video conference held from the District Collector's camp office, reviewing the progress of NCAP-related projects with concerned depart-ment officials. Speaking on the occasion, the he emphasized the need for swift execution of ongoing works under the NCAP framework. He specifi-cally instructed officials to complete the multi-level parking facility at GGH within ten days. He also highlighted the need for accelerated pro-gress in greenery development works near Ramnagar Bridge and other associated projects, ensuring no further delays. Participating in the video conference were Municipal Commissioner Balaraju, SE Chandrashekhar, DTC Veerraju, Municipal Corporation EE Shakir Hussaini, and Pollution Control Board Analyst, among other officials.
