Sun Sep 08 19:30:00 UTC 2024: ## India’s Air Quality Shows Improvement: 95 Cities See Better Air Under Clean Air Program
**NEW DELHI, Sept 8:** A significant improvement in air quality has been observed in 95 out of 131 cities covered under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), according to data released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The data reveals a positive trend, with 21 cities achieving more than a 40% reduction in PM10 pollution compared to 2017-18 levels.
The cities that witnessed the most significant improvements include Varanasi, Dhanbad, Byrnihat, Bareilly, Firozabad, Dehradun, Tuticorin, Nalagarh, Moradabad, Khurja, Trichy, Kohima, Lucknow, Kanpur, Kadapa, Sivasagar, Sunder Nagar, Agra, Greater Mumbai, Rishikesh and Parwanoo.
The NCAP, launched in 2019, aims to reduce particulate pollution by 40% by 2026. The program focuses on a variety of measures to achieve this, including promoting sustainable waste management practices, creating green spaces, and implementing intelligent traffic management systems.
Despite the positive progress, only 18 of the 131 NCAP cities currently meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for PM10.
Surat, Jabalpur, and Agra were recognized as the top three cities for air quality improvements among those with populations exceeding 10 lakh. The Ministry of Environment presented the National Clean Air City Awards during the Swachh Vayu Survekshan – 2024, an initiative that ranks cities based on their progress in implementing air quality improvement strategies.
These awards highlight the impact of comprehensive efforts to combat air pollution and encourage other cities to adopt similar strategies for cleaner air and a healthier environment.
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