Portal for regulation of air pollution launched

Will track physical and financial status of city-specific plans

Marking the second International Day of Clean Air For Blue Skies, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav recently said Rs 375.44 crore has been released to 114 cities during the financial year 2019-20 and 2020-21 for initiating actions under the city action plan. Another Rs 4,400 crore has been released to 42 cities with a million plus population as per recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission report for the financial year 2020-21. This is in addition to funds available through various central and state government schemes, he said.

Speaking at an event, Yadav said, “86 cities showed better air quality in 2019 in comparison to 2018, which increased to 104 cities in 2020.”

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Yadav also launched the Portal for Regulation of Air-pollution or ‘Prana’, in non-attainment cities (NAC) — those which failed to meet national air quality standards over a five-year period — under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). The environment ministry and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) have a target to achieve 20-30 per cent reduction in particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) concentrations across the country by 2024.

City-specific action plans for improving air quality in 132 NACs/Million Plus Cities, targeting city-specific air polluting sources (soil and road dust, vehicles, domestic fuel, MSW burning, construction material and industries) have been prepared, and are being implemented, said officials.

The portal will support tracking of physical as well as financial status of city air action plan implementation, and disseminate information on air quality to the public.