National Clean Air programme (NCAP)
Why in news:
- Four years since the Centre launched the National Clean Air Campaign (NCAP), analysts found that progress has been slow and pollution only incrementally reduced in most cities.
What is the NCAP?
- Following years of evidence that many Indian cities were among the most polluted in the world, the government launched the NCAP that committed funds as well as set targets for 131 of India’s most polluted cities on January 10, 2019.
- The 131 cities are called nonattainment cities, as they did not meet the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for the period of 201115 under the National Air Quality Monitoring Program (NAMP).
- The Goal of NCAP is to meet the prescribed annual average ambient air quality standards at all locations in the country in a stipulated timeframe.
Objectives of the NCAP:
- To augment and evolve effective and proficient ambient air quality monitoring network across the country for ensuring comprehensive and reliable database.
- To have efficient data dissemination and public outreach mechanism for timely measures for prevention and mitigation of air pollution and for inclusive public participation in both planning and implementation of the programmes and policies of government on air pollution.
- To have feasible management plan for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution.
Targets under the NCAP:
- The country’s current, annual average prescribed limits for the two main classes of particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) are 40 micrograms/per cubic metre (ug/m3) and 60 micrograms/per cubic metre.
- The NCAP initially set a target of reducing key air pollutants PM10 and PM2.5 by 2030% in 2024, taking the pollution levels in 2017 as the base year to improve upon.
- In September 2022, however, the Centre moved the goalposts and set a new target of a 40% reduction in particulate matter concentration, but by 2026.
Syllabus: Prelims + Mains; GS3- Environment; Pollution
