Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change addresses air pollution through the Air Prevention and Control of Pollution Act, 1981, empowering central and state bodies. The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), launched in January 2019, aims to improve air quality in 130 non-attainment cities via coordinated efforts and action plans. Public awareness campaigns are mandated to mitigate the impact of air pollution.
Key Points / Main Content:
Legislative and Regulatory Framework:
* The Air Prevention and Control of Pollution Act, 1981, empowers the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), State Governments, and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) to prevent, control, and abate air pollution.
* State Governments can declare and alter air pollution control areas, approve fuels and appliances, and prohibit burning materials causing pollution.
* CPCB coordinates state activities, resolves disputes, provides technical assistance, and sponsors research.
* The Central Government allocates 75% of Environmental Protection Fund penalties to States/UTs for environmental protection awareness, education, and research related to the Air Act, 1981.
* MoEFCC notifies emission standards for industries under Environment Protection Rules, 1986.
* CPCB directs high-pollution industries to install Online Continuous Effluent Emission Monitoring Systems (OCEMS).
* MoEFCC notified National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for 12 air pollutants via the Environment Protection Seventh Amendment Rules, 2009.
Monitoring and Implementation:
* CPCB, with SPCBs/PCCs, monitors air quality in over 543 cities.
* The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) aims to improve air quality in 130 non-attainment cities through multi-sectoral initiatives.
* NCAP activities are monitored by committees at national, state, and city levels.
* Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) have been signed among ULBs, State Governments, and MoEFCC, as well as between CPCB, SPCBs/PCCs, and ULBs, detailing stakeholder roles in NCAP implementation.
Public Awareness:
* CPCB, SPCBs/PCCs, and 130 NCAP cities are mandated to conduct awareness programs, including actions under Mission LiFE, regarding air quality management.
* Agencies are encouraged to organize awareness programs via the MY Bharat portal.
* Over 34,000 awareness programs on air quality management have been conducted under NCAP.
Impact Analysis:
State Governments:
* Impact: Empowered to declare air pollution control areas, approve fuels, and enforce the Air Act. Receive funds for environmental protection activities.
* Action Required: Enforce the Air Act, implement state-level clean air action plans, participate in NCAP, and conduct public awareness campaigns.
State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) / Pollution Control Committees (PCCs):
* Impact: Mandated to advise the State Government, set emission standards, inspect air pollution areas, and collaborate with CPCB. Responsible for monitoring and implementing emission standards.
* Action Required: Implement the Air Act provisions, monitor air quality, enforce emission standards, collaborate with CPCB, participate in NCAP, and conduct public awareness campaigns.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB):
* Impact: Responsible for coordinating state activities, resolving disputes, providing technical assistance, and sponsoring research. Directs SPCBs for Air Act implementation.
* Action Required: Coordinate with SPCBs/PCCs, provide technical guidance, monitor NCAP implementation, and conduct research.
Urban Local Bodies (ULBs):
* Impact: Involved in implementing city-level clean air action plans under NCAP.
* Action Required: Implement city-level clean air action plans, participate in NCAP, and conduct public awareness campaigns.
Industries (Especially High Pollution Potential):
* Impact: Required to comply with emission standards and install OCEMS.
* Action Required: Install and maintain OCEMS, comply with emission standards, and adopt cleaner technologies.
Citizens:
* Impact: Affected by air quality and benefit from awareness programs and improved air quality.
* Action Required: Participate in awareness programs, adopt responsible environmental behavior, and support air quality improvement initiatives.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The Indian government ministry responsible for environmental protection and climate change policies. Also referred to as MoEFCC.
Air Prevention and Control of Pollution Act, 1981: An Indian law enacted for the preservation of air quality and the control of air pollution. It empowers various bodies to take steps for prevention, control, or abatement of air pollution.
Central Pollution Control Board: A statutory organisation under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change responsible for pollution control. Also referred to as CPCB.
State Pollution Control Boards: State-level organizations empowered to take steps for the prevention, control, or abatement of air pollution within their respective states. Also referred to as SPCBs.
Environment Protection Rules, 1986: Rules notified under the Environmental Protection Act, which include standards for emission or discharge of environmental pollutants.
National Ambient Air Quality Standards: Standards for air pollutants notified under the Environment Protection Seventh Amendment Rules, 2009. Also referred to as NAAQS.
National Clean Air Programme: A program launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in January 2019 to improve air quality in 130 non-attainment and Million-Plus Cities in 24 States/Union Territories. Also referred to as NCAP.
Urban Local Bodies: Local governing bodies in urban areas that are involved in the implementation of the National Clean Air Programme. Also referred to as ULBs.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4108
TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.08.2025
Coordination between Centre and State for Air Pollution
4108. KUMARI SELJA:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) the nature of coordination between the Central Government and State Governments in
tackling air pollution;
(b) whether any joint initiatives or mechanisms have been implemented in this regard, if
so, the details thereof; and
(c) whether public awareness campaigns are being conducted to mitigate the impact of air
pollution and promote responsible environment behaviour and if so, the details
thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE
CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) and (b): MoEFCC has enacted the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, for
preservation of the quality of air and the control of air pollution. Under the Act, Central Pollution
Control Board, State Governments and the State Pollution Control Boards have been inter-alia
empowered to take steps for prevention, control, or abatement of air pollution.
The State Governments have been empowered under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution)
Act, 1981, to declare air pollution control areas, alter any air pollution control area, declare a new
air pollution control area, approve fuels and appliances and prohibit burning of material likely to
cause air pollution.
Further, State Pollution Control Boards have been provided the following mandate under the Act
to abate air pollution:
To advise the State Government on any matter concerning the prevention, control or
abatement of air pollution
To lay down, in consultation with the Central Board and having regard to the standards for
the quality of air laid down by the Central Board, standards for emission of air pollutantsinto the atmosphere from industrial plants and automobiles or for the discharge of any air
pollutant into the atmosphere from any other source whatsoever not being a ship or an
aircraft
To inspect air pollution control areas
To collaborate with the Central Board in organising the training of persons engaged or to
be engaged in programmes relating to prevention, control or abatement of air pollution and
to organise mass-education programme relating thereto
Central Board has been mandated to co-ordinate the activities of the State and resolve disputes
among them and provide technical assistance and guidance to the State Boards, carry out and
sponsor investigations and research relating to problems of air pollution and prevention, control or
abatement of air pollution.
The Central Government shall allocate seventy-five per cent of the amount collected as penalties
under the Environmental Protection Fund to the State Governments or Union territory
administrations for the promotion of awareness, education and research for the protection of
environment, and for achieving the objects and purposes of the Air (Prevention and Control of
Pollution) Act, 1981.
Further, Central Government issues directions to CPCB for implementing the provisions of the Air
(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 for abatement of air pollution. CPCB in turn issues
directions to concerned SPCBs for the implementation of the provisions of the Air (Prevention and
Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
Further, MoEFCC notified “Standards for Emission or Discharge of Environmental Pollutants from
various Industries” under Schedule-I of the Environment Protection Rules, 1986. The general
standards as notified under Schedule-VI of the Environment Protection Rules, 1986 are applicable
where specific standards are not available for the industrial sectors. CPCB has directed all 17
categories of high pollution potential industries and common waste treatment facilities to install
Online Continuous Effluent/ Emission Monitoring Systems (OCEMS) for effective monitoring of
compliance of emission and discharge standards. The concerned SPCB/PCC ensures the
implementation of the said standards.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has notified National Ambient
Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for 12 air pollutants under the Environment (Protection) Seventh
Amendment Rules, 2009 notified by G.S.R. 826 (E) dated 16.11.2009. CPCB in collaboration with
concerned SPCB/PCC monitor the air quality in more than 543 cities across the country.
National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) launched by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate
Change (MoEF&CC) in January 2019 aims to improve air quality in 130 non-attainment and
Million-Plus Cities in 24 States/UTs. It is a multi-sectoral initiative involving the coordinated
efforts of the Central and State Governments, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), and other stakeholders.
It emphasizes source-specific mitigation measures through city, state, and national-level clean air
action plans.Activities under NCAP are monitored by Committees at National (Apex, Steering, Monitoring and
Implementation); State (Steering and Monitoring); and City (Implementation) level. These
Committees coordinate, monitor, evaluate progress and provide guidance for implementation of
respective action plans.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed among the Urban Local Bodies
(ULB), State Governments and MoEF&CC for all 48 Million-Plus cities/Urban
Agglomerations. Also, MoUs have been signed among Central Pollution Control Board
(CPCB), State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs)/ Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) and
ULBs for remaining 82 Non-Attainment Cities (NACs) identified under NCAP. These MoUs
detail out the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders for the effective implementation of
various multi-sectoral interventions under NCAP.
(c): CPCB, SPCBs/PCCs and 130 cities under NCAP have been mandated to undertake awareness
programmes including relevant actions under Mission LiFE to create awareness generation
regarding air quality management. These agencies have also been encouraged to organize
awareness programmes through ‘MY Bharat’ portal for involving youth and students from schools
and colleges. Under National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), Municipal Corporations and State
Pollution Control Boards/State Environment Departments have conducted more than 34,000
awareness programmes on air quality management.
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