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Key Points

Jairam Ramesh has strongly criticized the National Clean Air Programme for its flawed focus on PM10 instead of the more dangerous PM2.5 particles. He highlighted severe underutilisation of funds, with Delhi spending less than a third of its allocated budget. Even PM Modi's constituency Varanasi performed poorly, using only 48.85% of its funds. The Congress leader called NCAP's shortcomings a public health crisis and national shame.

Key Points: Jairam Ramesh Slams NCAP Over PM2.5 Neglect and Fund Underuse

  • Jairam Ramesh calls NCAP flawed for focusing on PM10 instead of deadly PM2.5
  • Reveals Delhi used less than 33% of allocated NCAP funds
  • Varanasi and Noida also lag behind in fund utilisation
  • NCAP launched in 2019 to tackle air pollution in 130 cities
2 min read

National Clean Air Programme ill-conceived in many ways: Jairam Ramesh

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticizes NCAP for ignoring PM2.5 pollution and reveals shocking underutilisation of funds in key cities like Delhi.

"The National Clean Air Program is ill-conceived in many ways. – Jairam Ramesh"

New Delhi, June 21

Amid rising concerns over pollution, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has called for improvement in National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), saying "one of the biggest blunders" has been the dilution of its focus to measure and monitory only PM10 rather than PM2.5.

He also said that there has been underutilisation of funds under the programme.

Jairam Ramesh said PM2.5 pollution is the cause of the thousands of deaths.

"The National Clean Air Program is ill-conceived in many ways. One of the biggest blunders has been the dilution of its focus to measure and monitory only PM10 (particulate matter of less than 10 mm diameter) - rather than PM2.5 which is the cause of the thousands of deaths we see annually," he said in a post on X.

"Now we learn that even as the scope and ambit of this program was shrunk, the funds utilisation has remained uninspiring. On average, the 130 cities receiving money under this scheme have utilised only 70-78.5% of the funds received. Key cities like Delhi - whose annual air pollution season is a public health crisis and a national shame - have used less than 33% of the funds received under this scheme. Neighbouring Faridabad spent only 26.7% of the funds. Noida spent less than 10% of the funds allocated and even the PM's constituency of Varanasi trailed far behind the national average with a fund utilisation of 48.85%," he added.

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 in 24 States/UTs through implementation of National, State and City level clean air action plans.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
Why is there always so much talk and so little action? Every winter we choke on Delhi's air, yet funds remain unutilized. This isn't about politics - it's about our children's health. 😷 We need accountability from both central and state governments.
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Priya M.
While I agree NCAP needs improvement, let's not forget it's India's first nationwide framework for air quality management. Rome wasn't built in a day. The focus should be on strengthening implementation rather than just criticism.
A
Arjun S.
The PM2.5 vs PM10 debate is crucial! In Mumbai too, the smaller particles are what make our throats burn. Why are we measuring the wrong thing? 🤔 This shows lack of scientific understanding in policy making.
S
Sunita T.
Shocking to see Varanasi's performance! If even the PM's constituency can't implement this properly, what hope do other cities have? We need monthly public reports on fund usage - transparency is the only solution.
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Vikram J.
The problem isn't just funds - it's lack of coordination between municipal corporations, state pollution boards and central agencies. We need a single empowered authority for air quality like the EPA in US.
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Neha P.
As someone from Faridabad, this is heartbreaking. We suffer so much during winters, yet our officials spent only 26% of funds? Kya yeh sarkar hamaari saans lene ke haq ko bhi nahi samajhti? (Does this government not understand our right to breathe?)

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