Introduction
An airshed is a geographical area sharing a common flow of air and pollutants. Since emissions travel across municipal and State boundaries, urban air pollution cannot be addressed through isolated city-level measures alone.
Need for airshed-based governance
- Pollution in a city may originate from industries, thermal plants, vehicles, construction activities, waste burning and agricultural fires located outside its jurisdiction.
- Seasonal winds, temperature inversions and regional geography influence the accumulation and transportation of pollutants.
- Fragmented administration may shift pollution from one jurisdiction to another without reducing the overall pollution load.
NCAP and its limitations
- The National Clean Air Programme, launched in 2019, covers 130 cities through source-specific Clean Air Action Plans.
- It promotes monitoring, performance-linked grants and coordination among governments and Urban Local Bodies.
- However, its predominantly city-centric implementation inadequately addresses inter-city and inter-State pollution flows.
Conclusion
NCAP should adopt scientifically mapped airsheds, common emission inventories, regional targets and empowered inter-State coordination mechanisms, building upon the CAQM model, to secure sustainable improvements in urban air quality.
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