The Union Environment Ministry has constituted a committee to implement the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), which aims to reduce particulate matter (PM) pollution by 20%-30% in at least 102 cities by 2024. The NCAP unveiled in January is envisaged as a scheme to provide the States and the Centre with a framework to combat air pollution. For achieving the NCAP targets, the cities would be expected to calculate the reduction in pollution, keeping 2017’s average annual PM levels as the base year. The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) database on air pollution over the years has listed Tier I and Tier II Indian cities as some of the most polluted places in the world. Experts have criticised the lack of mandatory targets and the challenge of inadequate enforcement by cities.

Source: The Hindu April 29, 2019 16:41 UTC