Context:
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed southern States and Puducherry to ensure strict and time-bound implementation of State Action Plans under the National Clean Air Programme.
- National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) is a central sector scheme launched in 2019 aiming to reduce PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations in non-attainment cities.
- Targets include 20–30% reduction (later revised to 40% by 2026) in particulate pollution levels using 2017 as the base year.
- Cities prepare State Action Plans (SAPs) / City Action Plans (CAPs) focusing on sector-specific interventions like transport, industry, construction, and waste management.
- Particulate Matter (PM2.5 & PM10) are key pollutants causing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, making air pollution a major public health concern.
- Funds are allocated under schemes like NCAP and Fifteenth Finance Commission grants for air quality improvement.
- NGT is a statutory body under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, empowered to enforce environmental laws and provide relief and compensation.
- Under-utilisation of funds reflects governance and implementation gaps, affecting pollution mitigation outcomes.
- Southern cities, though less highlighted than Delhi-NCR, are witnessing rising urban pollution due to vehicular emissions, industrialisation, and construction dust.
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