New Delhi: The Central Government on Thursday informed that no definitive data is currently available on deaths related to air pollution in India.
Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh, in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, however, said that 95 cities out of 131 cities have shown improvement in air quality in terms of annual PM10 concentrations in Financial Year 2023-24.
“There is no conclusive data available to establish a direct correlation of death exclusively with air pollution,” Singh said, adding that air pollution is one of the many factors affecting respiratory ailments and associated diseases.
“Health is impacted by several factors, including food habits, occupational habits, socio-economic status, medical history, immunity, heredity, etc., of the individuals apart from the environment,” he said.
“In January 2019, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) launched the National Clean Air Programme with an aim to improve air quality in 131 cities (non-attainment cities and Million Plus Cities) in 24 States by engaging all stakeholders,” Singh informed.
“NCAP envisages a reduction by 20-30% in PM concentration over baseline in year 2017 by 2024. Target has been revised to achieve reduction in PM10 level up to 40% or achievement of national standards by 2025-26,” he said.
The Minister further added, “City Action Plans (CAPs) have been prepared by all 131 cities and being implemented by Urban Local Bodies. The city-specific clean air action plans target city-specific air polluting sources like Soil and Road Dust, Vehicles, Domestic Fuel, MSW Burning, Construction Materials and Industries.”
“Performance-based financial support is provided to these 131 cities for implementation of activities of City Action Plan,” he said.
“Further, funding for implementation of CAPs is mobilised through convergence of resources from various schemes of Central Government such as Swachh Bharat Mission SBM (Urban), Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), Smart City Mission, Sustainable Alternative towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT), Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME-II), Nagar Van Yojna, etc. and resources from State/UT Governments and its agencies such as Municipal Corporation, Urban Development authorities and Industrial development authorities etc,” Singh said.
“Public Grievance Redressal Portal (PGRP) or helpline have been developed by all 131 cities to address public complaints of air pollution in timely manner. Emergency Response System (ERS/ GRAP) have been developed by all 131 cities for taking action in air emergencies,” he further said.
Under NCAP, an amount of Rs. 19,614.44 crores have been earmarked to 131 cities during the period FY 2019-20 till FY 2025-26 out of which 49 million Plus Cities/Urban Agglomerations are funded under XVth Finance Commission air quality grant and the remaining 82 cities are supported by MoEF&CC under Control of Pollution Scheme. So far, an amount of Rs. 11,211.13 crores has been released to 131 cities to implement City Action Plans in their respective cities, the Minister said.
“95 cities out of 131 cities have shown improvement in air quality in terms of annual PM10 concentrations in FY 2023-24 with respect to the baseline of FY 2017-18. 18 cities have met National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for PM10 (60 µg/m3) in FY 2023-24,” Singh added.
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Many companies are producing heavy carbon in our environment and doing nothing to reduce it. So the government should take strict action against them and make regulations like the company should do air tests weekly or monthly from NABL accredited labs like Equinox Labs. The companies only try to maximize their profit and not counter their responsibility. So the government should come forward and take the initiative.