Lok Sabha Question No. 2119 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-09
Subject: Standard Operating Procedure for Implementation of NCAP
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Rahul Kaswan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2119

TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.12.2024

## Standard Operating Procedure for Implementation of NCAP

## 2119   SHRI: RAHUL KASWAN:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) The specific measures taken to create Standard Operating Procedures for the implementation of the Clean Air Action Plans under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in all the States and Union Territories;
- (b) the specific measures taken to improve effectiveness and time-sensitive efficiency of the NCAP;
- (c) the current study methods used to understand the origins of pollution under the NCAP; and
- (d) the specific measures to adapt and implement more effective forms of modelling, like the Air  Quality  Modelling,  to  increase  the  comprehensive  understanding  of  pollution dispersion from distant sources?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a)&(b): National  Clean  Air  Programme  (NCAP)  was  launched  by  Ministry  of  Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in January 2019 with an aim to improve air quality in 130 cities (non-attainment cities and Million Plus Cities) including metropolitan cities in 24 States/UTs through implementation of National, State and City level clean air action plans. NCAP envisages reduction in PM10 levels up to 40% or achievement of national standards (60 microgram/cubic meter) by 2025-26.

The implementation of city action plans is carried out by coordinated actions of State Government and  its  agencies  at  State  and  City  level  in  line  with  the  specific  guidelines  issued  under  the programme from time to time. The major guidelines of NCAP programme are as follows:

- (i) Guidelines for Release & utilization of funds under NCAP
- (ii) Operational  Guidelines  for  the  implementation  of  the  recommendations  on  Ambient  Air Quality  component  in  the  Million  Plus  Challenge  Fund  for  Million  Plus  cities/Urban Agglomerations
- (iii) Guidelines for Ranking of Cities under National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) - 'Swachh Vayu Survekshan'
- (iv) Guidelines for Capacity Building and Public Outreach under NCAP
- (v) Guidelines for National Knowledge Network (NKN) & Institutes of Repute (IoRs) under NCAP
- (vi) Guidelines for conducting for audit for implementation of City Action Plans under National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)
- (vii) Guidelines for Formulation of State Action Plan
- (viii) Guidelines on dust mitigation measures in handling Construction material & C&D wastes
- (ix) Guidelines for Disposal of Legacy Waste (Old Municipal Solid Waste)
- (x) Guidelines on Environmental Management of C & D Wastes
- (xi) Conceptual Guidelines and Common Methodology for Air Quality Monitoring, Inventory & Source Apportionment Studies for Indian Cities
- (xii) Guidelines for the Measurement of Ambient Air Pollutants

Following Committees have been set up at National, State and City level for coordination, review and monitoring of progress of action plans under NCAP:

- a. National Level
2. (i) Apex Committee
3. (ii) Steering Committee
4. (iii) Monitoring Committee
5. (iv) Implementation Committee
- b. State Level
7. (i) Steering Committee
8. (ii) Implementation Committee
- c. City Level
10. (i) City level Implementation and Monitoring Committee

CPCB nodal officers have been nominated conduct field verification of the implementation of the city action plan. SPCB and City nodal officers have been nominated for the implementation of action plans.

The framework for conducting third party audit of the activities implemented by cities has also been prepared. National Knowledge Network (NKN) has been constituted to build local technical capacities and create a larger pool of institutes to support activities under the NCAP. Institutes of Repute have been assigned to cities for providing technical expertise to ULBs to implement city action plans. Project Management Units (PMUs) have been setup to assist ULBs for programme implementation. MoEF&CC has launched 'PRANA' a portal for monitoring implementation of NCAP. This portal serves as a platform to track implementation of action plans, physical and financial progress of cities for air quality improvement under NCAP.

(c)&(d) :  Source apportionment study, which is primarily based on measurements and tracking down the sources through receptor modeling, helps in identifying the sources & extent of their contribution. So far, such studies of 79 cities had completed.

*****