Clean, good news is in the air!

Much like a cool breeze on a muggy day, the latest data from the environment ministry reveals that 95 out of 131 cities under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) have improved air quality. Impressively, 21 of these cities have cut PM10 pollution by over 40% compared to 2017-18 levels, achieving the target two years ahead of schedule. India launched NCAP in 2019 with an aim to reduce particulate pollution by 20-30% by 2024, using 2017 as the base year. This target was later revised to a 40% reduction by 2026, using 2019-20 as the baseline.

While the fight for cleaner air is far from over, this report signals that air quality concerns are finally being prioritised by cities and local authorities. Despite the notable reductions in PM10 levels, though, most cities still fall short of national ambient air quality standards. This milestone should encourage more aggressive efforts. Except for Greater Mumbai, the most improved cities and urban agglomerations are in tier-2, -3 and -4 cities. Cities like Varanasi, Dhanbad and Dehradun have made significant strides through measures such as road paving, bioremediation and improved waste management. Additional initiatives like urban parks, Miyawaki forestation and intelligent traffic management will help maintain these gains. These cities can serve as real-world examples of how local authorities' actions can effectively address poor air quality, offering a blueprint for others.

Achieving further improvements in air quality to meet and exceed national standards needs addressing other pollutants-PM 2.5, SOx, NOx and organic compounds. This will involve deeper systemic changes in mobility choices, land use and urban planning. Continued policy and gov support can build on these early gains.