Parliament Question: Airshed-Based Management for Air Pollution Control

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2371 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.08.2026 Airshed-Based Management for Air Pollution Control 2371. MS. PRANITI SUSHILKUMAR SHINDE: Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has adopted or is considering an airshed-based approach for air pollution management across regions sharing common atmospheric conditions, if so, the details thereof; (b) the details of existing institutional mechanisms for inter-State coordination in managing air pollution across major airsheds such as the Indo-Gangetic Plain; (c) whether any studies or pilot projects have been undertaken to assess the effectiveness of airshed-level interventions compared to city-specific action plans under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP); and (d) the steps taken or proposed to establish a comprehensive framework for airshed management, including data-sharing protocols, joint action plans and accountability mechanisms across States and sectors? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH) (a) to (d): To address air pollution in urban areas, National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) was launched in 2019 by the Government in 130 Cities across 24 States. NCAP emphasizes source specific mitigation measures through city, state, and national-level clean air action plans and it is monitored by various committee constituted at Central, State and District level. Under NCAP, 24 States/ UTs have prepared state action plans for implementing air quality management policies in respective States, following inter alia regional air shed approach as per guidelines for formulation of State Action Plan issued by CPCB and 130 cities have prepared city- specific clean action plans to address various sources of air pollution.As per study conducted by IIT Delhi, based on satellite data, across seasons, India has 8-9 major air sheds of varying geographic coverage with the Indo Gangetic Plain as a gigantic single air shed (March-May) or two large air sheds (June-February). MoEFCC has constituted a Coordination Committee for coordinating actions in respect of Air Pollution in Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) Airshed area. Considering the need for regional-level initiatives through inter-state and intercity coordination, as well as to have a consolidated approach in addition to multi-sectoral synchronization for mitigation of air pollution in the region of Delhi NCR, Government has established the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) under the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021 for better coordination, research, identification and resolution of problems of air pollution in the air shed of the National Capital Region and in the adjoining areas. CAQM has adopted an air-shed-based approach to implement the air pollution control measures through coordinated actions of various agencies of Central, State and local Governments. Accordingly, all States under Delhi-NCR have prepared Short-term and long-term action plan under the coordination of CAQM, for prevention and mitigation of air pollution in Delhi-NCR. To ensure accountability, monitoring and to review the progress, Portal for Regulation of Air- pollution in Non-Attainment (PRANA) has been created under NCAP. In PRANA, all cities and states are mandated to upload all relevant details like State and City clean air action plans, status and progress of their implementation, outcome of source apportionment studies undertaken, best practices, details on fund utilisation, etc. State level Steering Committee under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary and Air Quality Monitoring Committee under the Chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary/ Principal Secretary, Environment Department periodically review and monitor the progress of implementation of State action plans under NCAP. ***