Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2023: Indore ranks first followed by Agra and Thane

New Delhi: Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav on Thursday announced the awards of Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2023 in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh

Under the 1st category (million plus population) Indore ranked first followed by Agra and Thane. In the second category (3-10 lakhs population), Amravati secured first rank followed by Moradabad and Guntur.

Similarly, for third category (less than 3 lakhs population) Parwanoo secured the first rank followed by Kala Amb and Angul.

Speaking at the event Mr Yadav said this year, 4th International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies (Swachh Vayu Diwas 2023) is to create stronger partnerships, increase investment, and share responsibility for overcoming air pollution, with the global theme of “Together for Clean Air.”

The Union Minister said on 15th August 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi displayed the government’s commitment to ensure clean air to all the people of the country and announced the intent and plan to improve the air quality in more than 100 cities through a holistic approach.

He said the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has been implementing a National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) as a national-level strategy outlining the actions for reducing the levels of air pollution at city and regional scales in India since 2019.

He said the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) aims to systemically address air pollution by engaging all stakeholders and ensuring necessary action.

Mr Yadav said 131 cities have been identified for the implementation of the city specific action plans under this Programme.

NCAP focuses on the preparation and implementation of national-level action plan, state level action plans and city level action plans of the targeted 131 cites.

“The coordinated implementation of these plans would help to achieve improvement in air quality in targeted 131 cities as well as in the entire country” he added.

Union Minister said under NCAP Ministry has also launched “PRANA” a portal for monitoring implementation of NCAP. In this portal, action plans of cities, states and line ministries will be reflected and monitored for their implementation status.

In addition, best practices adopted by cities are shared on PRANA portal for adopting these practices by other cities.

Yadav said during the UNFCCC, COP 26 held in Glasgow in 2021 Hon’ble prime Minister launched the “Mission LiFE” which means Lifestyle for Environment.

“The mission aims to create and nurture a global network of individuals, having a shared commitment to adopt and promote environment-friendly lifestyles and make life a mass movement (Jan Andolan)”