Government organizes Swachh Vayu Diwas on the occasion of International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies
Union Minister Bhupender Yadav reiterates the
importance of LiFE Mission
Environment and Development are complementary to each other: Yadav
Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change organized 3rd International Day
of Clean Air for blue skies as ‘Swachh Vayu Diwas (“Swachh Vayu Neel Gagan”)’today to raise
awareness and facilitate actions to improve air quality under National Clean
Air Programme (NCAP).
The event was graced by Union Minister for Environment, Forest and
Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, and Minister of State for Environment, Forest
and Climate Change Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav
also released brochures on Capacity building and public outreach under NCAP
with best practices in eight cities:
Srinagar (All Hands on Board), Varanasi (Nothing goes to waste), Bengaluru
(Clean Road, Clean City), Pune (The Right Drive), Hyderabad (The Green Way),
Akola (Water Woes), Thootukudi (Treasure from Trash) and Lucknow (Under
Control).
In his address, Yadav said that when we commenced the Clean Air Mission
program last year, it was our endeavor to work on it from the grassroot level
as the topic of clean air is a matter of priority for the government. He
stressed on promoting and utilizing the wisdom of even the common people.
Yadav reiterated that the LiFE mission stated by the Prime
Minister at COP 26 in Glasgow, needs to be taken forward not only across the
country but all over the world. The meaning of LiFE Mission is that there
should be a mindful utilization of resources.
The Minister stated that what we aim for in the National Clean Air
Mission program is to address the problems of air pollution at the regional
level keeping in mind the peculiarities of different regions. The solutions to
this issue have to be socio– economic. In National Clean Air Mission program,
new start ups should be promoted to work towards innovative solutions, said the
Minister.
Yadav stressed that we want this innovation to become a movement.
Therefore, the arrangement of funding in the program of NCAP has also been made
on the basis that those who have good performance should also be rewarded. At
NCAP, we are continuously working on regional workshops, he
added. National Clean Air Programme has created awareness by bringing out
a portal. They are collaborating with the State Pollution Control
Board. Along with this, a bill that was passed last year was a new
legislative change in itself for Delhi, in which the Trans Boundary Mandate has
been given.
Yadav stressed on making the local people aware about the natural
heritage. We feel that environment and development are not antagonistic but
complementary to each other. We will be able to fulfil our goals only by
adopting scientific attitude and knowledge and giving a dignified life to every
person, , he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, MoS MoEFCC said that
Swachh Pawan Neel Gagan that has completed its three years needs to be
passed on to the future generations.. The problem of air pollution is not
only in our country but all over the world, he said. The world is now looking
at India to see what our policy will be in this matter. Efforts need to be made
on this issue from the ministry level to the panchayat level, he added.
The event was joined by Leena Nandan, Secretary, MoEFCC, Dr MM Kutty,
Chairperson, Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), Shri Tanmay Kumar,
Chairman, Central Pollution Control Board, Naresh Pal Gangwar, Additional
Secretary, MoEFCC, Environment and Urban Development Departments of State
Government/UT administrations, State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control
Committees, Integrated Regional Offices of MoEFCC, regional directorates of
CPCB and 131 City administrations.
United Nations General Assembly has designated 7th September as the
“International Day of Clean Air for blue skies” with an aim to raise awareness
and to promote actions to improve air quality. This year, it raises awareness
on the urgency of strengthening national action and regional collaboration
to improve air quality, with the global theme of "The Air We Share”.
The event presented an opportunity to share success stories of National
Clean Air Programme, an initiative launched in January, 2019 taking forward the
commitment made by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in his address to
Nation on Independence Day to ensure Clean Air for All, healthy and productive
life for citizens, and the intent to improve air quality in more than 100
cities through holistic approach.
National Clean Air Programme aims at improving air quality by reducing
Particulate Matter concentrations by 20-30% in 131 cities in the country. It
includes 123 Non-Attainment Cities (NAC) which exceed the National Ambient
Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for 5 consecutive years and 42 Million Plus
Population Cities/Urban Agglomerations. 34 cities are common in both
categories.
131 cities of the country have developed City Action Plans and Micro
Action Plans to address various sources contributing to poor air quality such
as vehicles, road dust, construction, industries, thermal power plants, burning
of waste, Construction and Demolition Waste, etc. There has been an overall
improvement in Particulate Matter concentration in 95 cities including 20
cities conforming to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards in the year
2021-22 compared to 2017.
Reporting and monitoring of physical and financial progress of action
plans is done through PRANA portal (Portal for Regulation of Air Pollution in
Non-attainment Cities).
During the event on Swachh Vayu Diwas, MoEFCC has released the
following:
- Guidelines on Capacity Building and Outreach
programmes to be conducted at National, State and City level, help in
mobilising stakeholders at all levels to promote actions to improve air
quality.
- Guidelines for release and utilization of
funds under NCAP;
- XV Finance Commission Operational guidelines
for implementation of recommendations for air quality component
- Best Practices and success stories of 8 cities
under NCAP (Pune and Bangalore on sustainable transport curbing vehicular
emissions; Srinagar, Tuticorin, &Varanasi on solid waste management,
Akola on sewage management, Hyderabad on developing 33% greenery to act as
carbon sink, Lucknow for Integrated Control and Command Centre
monitoring). These best practices help in adopting sustainable approaches
by other cities for improvement of air quality