Lok Sabha Question No. 2468 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-18
Subject: Airshed Management under NCAP
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Sunita Duggal

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2468

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2023

## Airshed Management under NCAP

## 2468.  SHRIMATI SUNITA DUGGAL:

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

- (a) whether there is any mechanism in place for inter-state coordination for combating Air Pollution under National Clean Air Programme (NCAP);
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  any  periodic  study  has  been  undertaken  by  the  Government  to  identify Airsheds across the country;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and a consolidated list of identified Airsheds across the country or otherwise;
- (e) if not, whether the Government is planning to pursue it in the near future; and
- (f) whether the Government plans to incorporate any programme/policies based on airshed management under NCAP and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) to (f):

National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) has been launched in January, 2019 which is a longterm, time-bound national level strategy for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution. The  Programme  envisages  to  achieve  target  of  reduction  upto  40%  in  Particulate  Matter concentrations in 131 cities of 24 States/UTs with respect to base year 2017 or achievement of National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) by 2025-26.

Under  National  Clean  Air  Programme  (NCAP),  24  States/  UTs  with  non-attainment  and million plus cities have been mandated to prepare state action plans following an airshed based approach for implementing air quality management policies across the states. 41 out of 131 non-attainment and million plus cities have been identified in 08 IGP States/ UTs for focused improvement in air quality through implementation of city action plans.

To monitor the implementation of the State and City Action Plans under NCAP, the following National Level Committees have been constituted for inter-state coordination to address air pollution:

- (i) Apex Committee
- (ii) Steering Committee
- (iii) Monitoring Committee
- (iv) Implementation Committee

Apex Committee under NCAP has recommended for preparation of Regional Action Plan in IGP bound States/UTs for air quality management. Further, Ministry held meeting with 08 IGP States/UTs regarding Air Quality Management in IGP States/UTs based on airshed approach.

A joint committee has prepared a comprehensive report on the best possible technologies for various  emission  sources  at  all  scales  to  check  air  pollution  along  with  sector  specific recommendations in IGP region.

According to a study conducted by IIT Delhi during March, 2019 to March, 2023 to demarcate the major air sheds in India, 8-9 major air sheds of varying geographic coverage have been identified. List of airshed are enclosed at Annexure-I .

Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) has been constituted,  which  is  specifically  looking  into  issues  of  Air  pollution  in  Delhi-NCR  and adjoining areas. CAQM has come out with a policy to curb air pollution in NCR, specifying responsible agencies with timelines. The policy adopted by CAQM is broadly based on an airshed approach for the NCR and contains sector-wise recommendations and targeted actions in respect of various Agencies and Departments of Central Government, NCR State Governments and GNCTD to prevent, control and abate air pollution in the NCR.

***

## List of Airsheds identified in Country

## 1. Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP):

-  Single Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) airshed during pre-monsoon season (Mar-May)
-  East West Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) during monsoon (Jun-Sep),
-  North South Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) during post-monsoon (Oct-Nov)
-  North-west Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) during winter (Dec-Feb).
2. North-eastern India: Two or three (smaller) airsheds.
3. Western arid region air shed during Dec-Sep
4. Peninsular India: Two air sheds
5. Northern India: Two air sheds
-  one covering mountainous region
-  other covering the foothills

***

## Annexure-I