Resource detail

The Centre on 10 January 2019 stepped up its efforts to combat air pollution by launching a five-year action plan with a tentative target of 20-30% reduction in concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 by 2024, with 2017 as the base year. The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) was launched by Union minister for environment, forests and climate change, Mr Harsh Vardhan with an initial budget of Rs 300 crore for the first two years. The plan includes 102 non-attainment cities, across 23 states and Union territories, which were identified by Central Pollution Control Board(CPCB) on the basis of their ambient air quality data between 2011 and 2015.