New Delhi, July 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) The PM2.5 level in Delhi during 2025-26 was 102 µg/m³ while 65 other cities managed to meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for PM2.5 levels (Standard ≤ 40 µg/m³) during the year, Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh told the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.
In a written reply to a query, Kirti Vardhan Singh said that the PM2.5 level in Pune, Hyderabad, Surat, Delhi and Mumbai during 2025-26 was 41,34,32,102,33 µg/m³, respectively.
The MoS added that 130 cities under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) have shown positive results with 108 cities recorded reductions in annual PM10 concentrations during 2025-26, compared to 2017-18, with 72 cities achieving reductions of more than 20 per cent and 26 cities achieving reductions of more than 40 per cent.
He said 14 cities met the National Ambient Air Quality Standards in FY 2025-26 (Standards ≤ 60 µg/m3), compared to six cities in 2017-18.
Kirti Vardhan Singh added that air quality performance-based incentive grant of Rs 16,423.56 crore has been released to targeted cities under National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) as a critical gap funding to implement air pollution mitigation measures, during FY 2019-20 till 2025-26.
"To address air pollution in Delhi-NCR, the Central government has established the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) under the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021, for better coordination, research, identification and resolution of problems of air pollution," the MoS said.
The CAQM has been provided powers under the Act to take measures and issue directions to the various agencies in the National Capital Region for protecting and improving air quality.
He said the Central government has notified the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for 12 air pollutants, including PM10 and PM2.5 to safeguard public health and environment quality.
"To provide air quality information and associated health implications in an easily understandable manner, Air Quality Index (AQI) was launched by the government in 2015," he added.
"To address air pollution in urban areas in Mission mode, National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) was launched in 2019 by the Central government in 130 cities across the country which includes Pune, Surat, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi," the MoS said.
It is a multi-sectoral initiative involving the coordinated efforts of the Central and state governments, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and other stakeholders.
The NCAP emphasises source specific mitigation measures through city, state, and national-level clean air action plans and it is monitored by various committee constituted at Central, state and district level.
State level Clean Air Action Plans prepared by states/UTs address both PM10 and PM2.5 through coordinated approach by implementing various policy and enforcement measures, MoS Kirti Vardhan Singh said.
Source: IANS
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