CPCB data: 21 cities under NCAP reduced PM10 pollution by over 40% since 2017-18

According to the latest data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), 95 of the 131 cities under India's National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) have significantly improved air quality.

• 95 INDIAN CITIES SHOW IMPROVEMENT IN AIR QUALITY

Among these, 21 cities achieved a more than 40 per cent reduction in PM10 pollution compared to the 2017-18 levels.

The NCAP, launched in 2019, set an ambitious goal of reducing particulate pollution by 20-30 per cent by 2024, using 2017 as the base year. In 2022, this target was revised to a 40 per cent reduction by 2026, using 2019-20 as the base year. While the programme initially aimed to tackle both PM2.5 and PM10, only PM10 levels are being used to assess the performance of cities.

• Only 18 cities currently meet the NAAQS for PM10, set at 60 micrograms per cubic metre.

• 14 cities, including Ahmedabad, Ghaziabad, and Kolkata, reduced PM10 by 30-40%, while cities like Surat and Bengaluru reduced PM10 by 20-30%.

• Delhi recorded a 10-20% reduction in PM10 pollution along with 20 other cities.

• Swachh Vayu Survekshan 2024 recognized Surat, Jabalpur, and Agra as the top performers among major cities for air quality improvement