National Clean Air City award: Lucknow bags first prize for reducing PM10 by 31 percent

New Delhi: Lucknow bagged first prize in the “National Clean Air City” award with a population of over 10 lakhs, based on Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2022.

The city was selected for reducing average ambient PM10 concentration by 31 percent from 2019-20 to 2021-22 and scoring higher on actions taken for abating burning of biomass and solid waste.

The award was introduced by the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MEFCC) under its National Clean Air Programme in an effort to create a national framework for air quality management with time-bound reduction targets.

Under the framework, the center has set a target of a 40 percent reduction in particulate matter concentration in cities covered under the National clean Air Programme (NCPA) by 2026.

In this category, Prayagraj and Varanasi bagged second and third spot among 47 cities.

In the second category of 44 cities with a population of 3-10 lakh, two cities from Moradabad and Firozabad, won top two positions, while Amravati (Maharashtra) stood third.

In the third category of 40 cities with a population of less than 3 lakh, Dewas (Madhya Pradesh), and Sundar Nagar and Nalagarh (both Himachal Pradesh), secured top three positions. Total 131 cities participated in the survey conducted for the first time

Sanyukta Bhatia, the Mayor of Lucknow received the cheque of 1.5 crore and certificate from Ganeshi Lal, Governor of Odisha, and Union Minister of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav.

Moradabad bagged the first prize with a cash reward of Rs. 75 lakhs by reducing PM10 concentration by 36 percent.

The awards are expected to motivate these cities and other non-attainment cities to amplify their efforts towards achieving a cleaner and greener India.

A 2-day International Conference Series on Vayu: The Vital Life Force, was also inaugurated by Prof. Ganeshi Lal, Governor of Odisha, and Union Minister of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav at Bhubaneswar.

Speaking at the event, Union Minister Yadav said, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, the country has made great strides in tackling air pollution and climate change.

“This includes increase in renewables capacity and establishment of the International Solar Alliance for the energy sector, promotion of electric vehicles and mandated ethanol blending for vehicular sector, conversion to cleaner fuels in case of industrial sectors, ban on Single Use Plastic, among others” he said.

About the Mission LiFE, Lifestyle for Environment, he said that emphasis needs to be laid not only on converting waste to wealth, but also on reducing waste generation.

“While action is being initiated for carbon markets, carbon finance, mitigation and adaptation, sustainable consumption, sustainable production and creating awareness among the people for an environmentally conscious lifestyle is the way forward” he said.

He hoped that useful inputs would emerge from the technical sessions that would be held during the conference, however, it should be ensured that discussions take into account policy formulation, policy execution, innovative and scientific developments, ethical values and traditional knowledge, as all these elements would be required for putting up an effective fight against climate change.

As a part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, the conference is one of a series of conferences, which intend to disseminate Indian thought across the globe vis-à-vis Panchmahabhoot, the five essential elements of creation.