CLEAN AIR SURVEY - ENVIRONMENT

News: Clean Air Survey 2023: Indore ranks first followed by Agra and Thane

 

What's in the news?

       Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav awarded first rank to the Information Technology hub of Madhya Pradesh, Indore, in the Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan-2023 (or Clean Air Survey), conducted by the Central Pollution Control Board.

 

Key takeaways:

       A total of 131 cities have been identified for the implementation of the city-specific action plans under this programme, for reducing air pollution by up to 40% by FY26.

 

Swachh Vayu Survekshan (Clean Air Survey) 2023:

       Swachh Vayu Survekshan (SVS) is a new initiative by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to rank cities on the basis of air quality and implementation of activities approved under the city action plan (NCAP) in 131 non-attainment cities.

       Cities are declared non-attainment if over a 5-year period they consistently do not meet the NAAQS for PM10 or NO2.

       The categorisation of cities has been based on the 2011 population census.

 

Assessment Criteria:

The evaluation of cities in SVS 2023 is based on eight key parameters:

       Control of biomass

       Municipal solid waste burning

       Road dust

       Dust from construction and demolition waste

       Vehicular emissions

       Industrial emissions

       Public awareness

       Improvement in PM10 concentration

 

1st Category: Million Plus Population

Top 3 Cities:

       Indore

       Agra

       Thane

 

Worst Performers:

       Madurai (46)

       Howrah (45)

       Jamshedpur (44)

 

2nd Category: 3-10 Lakhs Population

Top 3 Cities:

       Amravati

       Moradabad

       Guntur

 

Worst Performers:

       Jammu (38)

       Guwahati (37)

       Jalandhar (36)

 

3rd Category: Less than 3 Lakhs Population

Top 3 Cities:

       Parwanoo

       Kala Amb

       Angul

 

Worst Performer:

       Kohima (39)