Parliament Question: Implementation of National Clean Air Programme in Bengaluru

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2639 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.03.2026 Implementation of National Clean Air Programme in Bengaluru 2639. SHRI P C MOHAN: Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state: (a) the present status of implementation of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in Bengaluru and the key action points identified for improving air quality in the city; (b) whether dedicated financial assistance has been provided to Bengaluru under NCAP for air quality improvement and if so, the amount sanctioned, released and utilised so far; (c) the major interventions undertaken using these funds, including measures related to traffic management, control of construction dust, industrial emissions and promotion of clean mobility; (d) the manner in which air quality monitoring is being carried out in Bengaluru, including the number of continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations, use of low-cost sensors and public dissemination of data; and (e) whether the Government has assessed the impact of NCAP interventions on the AQI levels in Bengaluru and the progress achieved so far? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH) (a) & (b): Bengaluru city has been included as non-attainment city under National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to improve air quality through implementation of city action plans. Source apportionment study has been conducted for Bengaluru city for identification of sources of pollution. City Action Plan prepared by Bengaluru city focuses on source-specific interventions targeting road dust control, construction and demolition activities, decongestionof traffic junctions, greening of open spaces and medians, mitigation measures at identified hotspots, deployment of mechanical road sweeping machines, and promotion of clean mobility. Annual action plan for FY 2025-26 has been prepared for implementing air quality improvement measures. City-level Monitoring and Implementation Committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner, Bengaluru for preparing and monitoring city action plan. State-level Implementation and Monitoring Committee (SLMIC) has been constituted under the chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary, Urban Development Department. City has identified 9 higher emission zones/hotspots and detailed action plan for the identified sources in these hotspots have been prepared. Public Grievance Redressal System also been developed in non-attainment/ million plus cities wherein air pollution issues are addressed. To tackle air pollution in emergencies, Emergency Response Plan has been prepared for Bengaluru City, which provides set of emergency response actions, depending on severity of air pollution levels. Air quality performance grant of ₹ 541.1 crore has been provided to Bengaluru City under XVth Finance Commission (XV-FC) Million-plus City Challenge Fund. City has reported the utilization of ₹ 427.43 crore (79%) on PRANA Portal. (c): Major interventions undertaken including measures related to traffic management, control of construction dust and promotion of clean mobility are placed at Annexure-I. Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, through Consent mechanism under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, monitor the establishment and operation of industries and polluting activities through prescription of pollution control measures and monitoring the compliance of environmental standards. (d): Ambient air quality monitoring in Bengaluru city is carried out through 26 monitoring stations, including 11 Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS), operated by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board. A centralised air quality portal and mobile app-SAMEER is functional for tracking and dissemination of near real time air quality data and hourly Air Quality Index to the public. CPCB issues a daily bulletin at 04:00 PM comprising AQI of various cities, including Bengaluru, in the country. SAMEER app also serves as a grievance redressal mechanism which allows the citizens to report pollution related complaints for quick resolution by the concerned agencies. Further, air quality monitoring data is also made available by respective SPCBs/PCCs on their websites. CPCB issued a methodology for measurement of ambient air quality as per the approved methods. Data from low cost sensors is not reliable. There is no approved national reference available to use data from low cost sensors for regulatory purposes.(e): Due to coordinated efforts, air quality in Bengaluru city has improved showing reduction of 21.7% in terms of PM10 levels of 72 µg/m³ in 2024–25 as compared to 92 µg/m³ during the 2017-18. Bengaluru city has not recorded any bad air quality days (Air Quality Index>201) during last three years. ***Annexure-I Major interventions undertaken by Bengaluru City under National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) i. 212.6 km of roads paved/pedestrian built/road design improved ii. 1,25,290 metre square of area planted with green cover iii. 2,72,000 tons of C&D waste collected iv. 127 Nos. of New electric buses procured and deployed v. 20 Nos. of traffic congestion points intervened vi. 16 Nos. of water fountains installed vii. 7 Nos. of EV-charging stations installed ***