Parliament Question: Outcomes of NCAP

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 304 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.08.2025 Outcomes of NCAP 304*. SHRI NAVEEN JINDAL: Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state: (a) the measures taken/being taken to address the problem of air pollution particularly concerning particulate matter, vehicular emissions and ozone levels in the major cities across the country; (b) the status of the National Clean Air Program (NCAP) and the expected outcomes in the next five years; (c) whether the Government proposes to implement any specific projects or policies to tackle water pollution, including industrial effluents, sewerage and agricultural runoff, in major river basins, if so, the details thereof; (d) the details of progress made in reducing plastic waste and promoting waste management practices at the local level and the role of the Government in this regard; and (e) the measures being implemented to address the issue of land degradation and desertification along with the expected outcomes therefrom? ANSWER MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BHUPENDER YADAV) (a) to (e) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House. ***STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY OF PARA (a) TO (e) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. 304 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.08.2025 IN LOK SABHA RAISED BY SHRI NAVEEN JINDAL TITLED “OUTCOMES OF NCAP” (a) and (b): 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. Under NCAP, target has been set to achieve reduction in PM levels of up to 40% or achievement 10 of National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS; 60 microgram/cubic meter) by 2025-26 as compared to the levels of 2019-20. Performance linked grant of ₹ 13,036.52 crore has been provided to 130 cities as a critical gap funding to implement air pollution mitigation measures, during 2019-20 till date. So far, an amount of ₹ 9,600 crore (74%) has been utilised by 130 cities. The programme leverages mobilisation of resources through convergence of various schemes of Central & State Governments such as Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban), AMRUT, Smart City Mission, PM e-Bus Sewa, Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT), and Nagar Van Yojana, as well as resources of State Govts. / UT administration, Municipal Corporations and other developmental authorities for implementation of action plans. The focused actions by 130 cities under NCAP have shown positive results with 103 cities showing reduction in PM concentration in 2024-25 with respect to 2017-18, out of which 64 cities have 10 shown reduction in PM levels by more than 20% and 25 of these cities have achieved a reduction 10 of more than 40%. A total of 22 Cities have met National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and have PM Concentrations less than 60 µg/m3. Details of air quality improvement in cities 10 covered under NCAP is placed at Annexure I. In addition, the Government has taken several initiatives to address vehicular pollution which inter- alia include leapfrogging from BS-IV to BS-VI fuel and vehicle norms effective from 1st April 2020, promotion of e-mobility and alternate fuels, implementation of voluntary vehicle scrapping policy and implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework for End-of- Life Vehicles (ELVs). The Government of India introduced the following schemes to promote Electric Vehicles (EVs) and to address vehicular pollution, as below: (i) PM-eBus Sewa Scheme by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA): Launched on 16.08.2023, which aims to augment city bus operations in urban areas with Central Assistance (CA) of Rs. 20,000 crore for deploying 10,000 electric buses on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. In addition, it supports the development of depot and charging infrastructure, thereby enhancing clean and efficient public transport. (ii) PM E-DRIVE Scheme by Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI): Launched on 29.09.2024 for promotion of electric mobility in the country with an outlay of Rs 10,900 crore over a period of two years. The scheme provides subsidies or demand incentives worth Rs.3,679crore to e-2 Wheelers, e-3 Wheelers, e-ambulances, e-trucks and other emerging EVs. It also supports the development of EV charging infrastructure and the modernization of vehicle testing facilities. Further, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has formulated the Voluntary Vehicle Fleet Modernization Program (V-VMP) for creation of an ecosystem to phase out older unfit and polluting vehicles. MoRTH notified the Motor Vehicles (Registration and Functions of Vehicle Scrapping Facility) Rules, 2021 vide G.S.R. 653(E) dated 23.09.2021 for establishment of Registered Vehicles Scrapping Facility (RVSF). MoRTH has notified the Central Motor Vehicles (Twenty First Amendment) Rules, 2021 vide G.S.R. 652(E) dated 23.09.2021 for recognition, regulation and control of automated testing stations, the procedure of fitness testing of vehicles through automated equipment and the procedure for grant of Certificate of Fitness by automated testing stations. Further, the MoEF&CC notified the Environment Protection (End-of-Life Vehicles) Rules, 2025 vide S.O. 98(E) dated 06.01.2025 for environmentally sound management of end-of-life vehicles. Under the said Rules, producers have been mandated to fulfil the obligation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for the vehicles that they have introduced or introduces in the domestic market, including vehicles put to self-use, to ensure the specified end-of-life vehicle scrapping targets. Ground-level ozone is a secondary pollutant formed in the atmosphere through complex photochemical reactions involving oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These primary pollutants are released in the atmosphere due to anthropogenic activities, including industrial activities and vehicular emissions. Ministry notified the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for the permissible concentrations of ozone as 100 µg/m³ for an 8-hour average and 180 µg/m³ for a 1-hour average, applicable across industrial, residential, rural, and ecologically sensitive areas. To address ground-level ozone levels, MoEFCC has revised and introduced emission standards for NOₓ and VOCs across multiple industrial sectors under the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986. These sectors include the man-made fiber industry, fertilizer manufacturing, pharmaceutical production, and paint and coating industries, among others. Further, Ministry has notified emission standards for more than 80 categories of industries and the actions towards control of industrial pollution are implemented by industries. Monitoring and enforcement of industrial emission norms are carried out by the State Pollution Control Boards under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 through consent mechanism. (c): The Government enacted the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 for protection of environment including water bodies. The Central and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) / Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) implement the provisions of both the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to prevent and control pollution of aquatic resources.Regulation of industrial Pollution is implemented through various provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 under consent mechanism by the respective SPCB / PCC. Further, the Government stipulated general discharge standards and industry specific effluent discharge standards under the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986 to prevent industrial pollution in the water bodies. The Online Continuous Effluent Monitoring Systems (OCEMS) have been installed by 17 categories of industries and Grossly Polluting Industries (GPIs) in the country as per directives of CPCB to monitor the effluent quality on real-time basis to enable the identification of non-complying units and the implementation of corrective actions. In addition, CPCB also periodically issues directions to the concerned departments in the States for management of sewage and wastewater in accordance with the provisions notified under the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986 and for ensuring proper operation of existing Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) and industrial pollution control, under Section 18 (1)(b) of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 as well as under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. CPCB in association with SPCBs / PCCs has established a National Water Quality Monitoring Network (NWMP) for monitoring the water quality of aquatic bodies in the country. At present, CPCB has Nation-wide Water Quality Network comprising 4736 locations across the country. Distribution of monitoring network includes 2155 locations on rivers, 909 on stagnant water bodies, 1233 on Groundwater, 227 Marine locations and 212 on other water bodies such as drains, canals, Water Treatment Plant (WTPs) & Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs). CPCB has identified Polluted River Stretches (PRS) in the country based on the levels of water pollution with respect to Bio-chemical Oxygen Demand (BOD). In the Year 2018, 351 polluted river stretches were identified on 323 rivers. These PRS have reduced to 311 across 279 rivers in the year 2022. For rejuvenation of Polluted River Stretches (PRS), action plans were prepared by River Rejuvenation Committee (RRC) constituted by the respective State Government/ UT Administration, to make these river stretches fit for bathing purposes i.e. BOD ˂ 3 mg/L and Fecal Coliform ˂ 500 Most Probable Number per 100 mL. Further, action plans have been prepared which covers aspects such as source control (municipal sewage management, industrial pollution control, waste management), river catchment/basin management (adoption of good irrigation practices, utilization of treated sewage, ground water recharge aspects), Flood Plain Zone protection and its management (setting up of bio-diversity parks, removal of encroachments, rain water harvesting, plantation on both sides of the river), Environmental Flow (E-Flow) and watershed management. SPCBs / PCCs have been directed under Section 18(1) (b) of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 to direct concerned agencies in the State/UT to develop infrastructure for sewage treatment. “Revised Guidelines on Idol Immersion in Water Bodies” have been issued to States/UTs for their implementation to address pollution in water bodies.(d): Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, notified by MoEFCC provide the statutory framework for environmentally sound management of plastic waste in the country. The local bodies both in urban and rural are mandated to undertake plastic waste management. As per Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2024, notified on 14th March, 2024, every urban local body and Panchayat at District Level have been mandated to submit an annual report online with respect to measures taken under Plastic Waste Management Rules, as per prescribed proforma. Under Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0 (SBM-U 2.0) launched in 2021 by MoHUA, central assistance is provided, inter alia, for setting up of waste processing facilities as per scheme guidelines. Allocation of central share to States/UTs, under Solid Waste Management component of SBM-U 2.0, includes plastic waste management. Awareness generation of citizens for effective solid waste management including plastic waste management is a standard activity undertaken by Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) under Swachh Bharat Mission. Under Swachh Bharat Mission, the ULBs have significantly enhanced solid waste processing infrastructure, resulting in processing of solid waste to 80.3%. Central financial assistance is provided under Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen Phase II implemented by Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation for establishment of Plastic Waste Management Units (PWMUs) in rural areas. Under the Mission, rural bodies have established 2129 PWMUs so far. The local authorities along with CPCB/SPCB/PCC have undertaken regular enforcement drives across the country to enforce ban on identified Single Use Plastic (SUP) items, which have low utility and high littering potential, with effect from 1st July, 2022. As per details provided by SPCB/PCC and details available at SUP compliance monitoring portal, a total of 8,61,740 inspections have been conducted and 1985 tonnes of banned SUP items have been seized and a total of Rs. 19.82 crores of fine has been imposed during the period July, 2022 to July, 2025. The local authorities have also taken steps along with Central Government and State Governments on moving towards eco-friendly alternatives such as establishing distribution points for eco- alternatives, campaigns for promotion of cloth bags etc. The Guidelines on Extended Producer Responsibility for Plastic Packaging also allow local bodies to leverage EPR on plastic packaging for plastic waste management. Around 850 local bodies have registered under the Guidelines on Extended Producer Responsibility for Plastic Packaging. Since the issuance of the Guidelines on 16th February 2022, nearly 157 lakh tonnes of plastic packaging waste has been recycled. (e): The Government has undertaken a number of measures to combat land degradation and desertification, promote afforestation, improve soil health, conserve water, and ensuring the overall sustainability of desert regions, such as: (i) Publication of Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India, by Space Applications Centre (SAC) Indian Space Research Organisation, Ahmedabad, which provides the state- wise extent of land degradation and desertification in India. The Atlas by providing important data and technical inputs, serves as an important tool in planning and implementation of schemes aimed at restoration of land. An online portal has beendeveloped with the help of Space Application Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad for correlation of degraded area of land with the processes causing degradation. (ii) Set up of a Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Land Management (CoE-SLM) at the Indian Council for Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) Dehradun to engage and enable parties at international, national and local levels in addressing land degradation related issues with the ultimate goal of achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN). It also aims at enhanced South-South Cooperation, knowledge sharing, promotion of best practices, sharing of India’s experiences with cost-effective and sustainable land management strategies and developing ideas for transformative projects and programs and capacity building. (iii) Research by ICFRE – Arid Forest Research Institute (ICFRE-AFRI), Jodhpur, in forestry to develop technologies aimed at increasing vegetative cover and conserving biodiversity in the hot arid and semi-arid regions of India. (iv) At the United Nations Framework Convention to Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Paris (COP), 2015 in Paris, India joined the voluntary Bonn Challenge and has pledged to restore 26 million hectares of degraded forest land by 2030. (v) Implementation of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) which contributes to desertification control by improving water availability in arid and semi-arid regions, by encouraging water conservation practices and efficient irrigation with focus on providing irrigation solutions, especially in arid and semi-arid regions like Rajasthan, to improve agricultural productivity and support afforestation efforts. In addition to these, several initiatives for increasing and improving green cover and thereby combating desertification are taken up through various afforestation related schemes implemented by the Government of India. The Ministry has initiated the Aravalli Green Wall Project to spread green cover in the 5 km buffer area around the Aravalli Hill Ranges covering 29 Districts across four states namely Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat. The project spans the entire 700 km of the Aravalli range aims to improve the biodiversity of Aravalli Hills through afforestation, reforestation and restoration of water bodies. The Ministry also supports the States/UTs for various afforestation activities through Centrally Sponsored Scheme for conservation, development and promotion of forests under its major schemes namely, National Mission for a Green India (GIM) and Forest Fire Protection & Management Scheme (FFPM). Further, the Compensatory Afforestation fund under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) contributes to afforestation and consequently combatting desertification. In addition to these, State Governments also implement various schemes for tree plantation/afforestation to address land degradation such as Nagar Van Yojana (NVY) and National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) for increasing green cover and developing mini forests in urban spaces.Under NVY, MoEFCC has released the amount of Rs. 444.4 crore to develop 371 Nagar Vans and 176 Nagar Vatikas with an area of 38,958 acres in 547 Urban local bodies. Under NCAP, 12,131 acres of greening of urban areas and 756 km of greening along traffic corridors have been developed in 95 cities. ***Annexure I Improvement in PM concentrations of cities under NCAP in FY 2024-25 w.r.t. FY 2017-18 10 Improvement in PM in No. 10 S. 2024-25 w.r.t of Cities No. FY 2017-18 Cities (%) Gujarat (2): Rajkot, Surat; Himachal Pradesh (1): Nalagarh; Jammu & Kashmir (1): Srinagar; Jharkhand (1): Dhanbad; Maharashtra (3): Badlapur, Greater Mumbai, Ulhasnagar; Meghalaya (1): Byrnihat; 1 Above 40 25 Nagaland (1): Kohima; Punjab (2): Amritsar, Jalandhar; Tamil Nadu (1): Tuticorin; Uttar Pradesh (11): Agra, Allahabad, Bareilly, Firozabad, Ghaziabad, Jhansi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Moradabad, Raebareli, Varanasi; Uttarakhand (1): Dehradun Andhra Pradesh (6): Anantapur, Kadapa, Kurnool, Nellore, Rajahmundry, Vijayawada; Assam (2): Nagaon, Sivasagar; Gujarat (2): Ahmedabad, Vadodara; Haryana (1): Faridabad; Himachal Pradesh (4): Baddi, Kala Amb, Parwanoo, Sunder Nagar; Jammu & Kashmir (1): Jammu; Jharkhand (1): Ranchi; Karnataka (3): Bengaluru, Devanagere, 2 20-40 39 Hubli-Dharwad; Madhya Pradesh (1): Jabalpur; Maharashtra (3): Akola, Amravati; Thane Nagaland (1): Dimapur; Punjab (4): Dera Baba Nanak, Khanna, Ludhiana, Naya Nangal; Rajasthan (2): Alwar, Jodhpur; Tamil Nadu (1): Trichy; Telangana (1): Hyderabad; Uttar Pradesh (3): Gajraula, Gorakhpur, Noida; Uttarakhand (1): Rishikesh; West Bengal (2): Howrah, Kolkata Andhra Pradesh (3): Chittoor, Eluru, Ongole; Bihar (1): Muzaffarpur; Chhattisgarh (1): Durg-Bhilainagar; Delhi (1): Delhi; Madhya Pradesh Above 10 to (1): Ujjain; Maharashtra (2): Latur, Sangli; Punjab (2): Mandi- 3 20 less than 20 Gobindgarh, Patiala; Rajasthan (2): Jaipur, Kota; Tamil Nadu (2): Chennai, Madurai; Uttar Pradesh (3): Anpara, Khurja, Meerut; West Bengal (2): Asansol, Haldia Andhra Pradesh (1): Guntur; Assam (2): Guwahati, Nalbari; Bihar (1): Patna; Himachal Pradesh (1): Paonta Sahib; Karnataka (1): Gulbarga/Kalaburgi; Madhya Pradesh (2): Bhopal, Gwalior; 4 Less than 10 19 Maharashtra (7): Chandrapur, Jalna, Kolhapur, Nagpur, Nashik, Pune, Vasai Virar; Odisha (1): Cuttack; Rajasthan (1): Udaipur; Uttarakhand (1): Kashipur; West Bengal (1): DurgapurAndhra Pradesh (3): Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram; Assam (1): Silchar; Bihar (1): Gaya; Chandigarh (1): Chandigarh; Chhattisgarh (2): Korba, Raipur; Himachal Pradesh (1): Damtal; Jharkhand (1): Jamshedpur; Madhya Pradesh (3): Dewas, Indore, 5 Nil 27 Sagar; Maharashtra (4): Aurangabad, Jalgaon, Navi Mumbai, Solapur; Odisha (6): Angul, Balasore, Bhubaneswar, Kalinga Nagar, Rourkela, Talcher; Punjab (1): Dera Bassi; Telangana (2): Nalgonda, Sangareddy; West Bengal (1): Barrackpore ***