" It’s been 5 years of the National Clean Air Programme. This is why it hasn’t worked.", 2 September 2024

A new report by the Centre for Science and Environment revealed that funds for the National Clean Air Programme were overwhelmingly directed to dust management.

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The number of cities reporting hazardous levels of air pollution is increasing, pointing to the need to focus on combustion sources from industrial activity, waste burning, and transportation.

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When the National Clean Air Programme was launched in 2019, it set high ambitions and targets for some of India’s most polluted cities

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But five years later, not only are cities behind in meeting their targets, but also most measures to reduce air pollution have ignored major polluters responsible for causing toxic emissions, year round.

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A new report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) revealed that funds under the programme were overwhelmingly spent on actions amounting to dust management: paving roads, covering potholes, and deploying mechanical sweepers and water sprinklers. Less than one percent was spent on controlling toxic emissions from industry, and around 40% of funds out of Rs. 10,566.47 crores are unused.

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The 131 cities currently covered by NCAP were selected as they did not meet national air quality standards consecutively for five-years between 2011-2015. Five years later, most cities have failed to meet the NCAP’s target of reducing air pollution concentrations by 20-30% compared to 2017 levels. In fact, most gains in reducing air pollution from 2014-2021 came from gusty winds and other meteorological factors, a recent study found.