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In a recent study assessing air quality in non-attainment cities from 2019 to 2023, a positive trend emerges, indicating substantial reductions in PM2.5 and PM10 levels. The Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring System (CAAQMS) data reveals noteworthy achievements, with Varanasi leading the way.
Five years ago, India launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). Since then, Climate Trends and Respirer Living Sciences have been studying the air quality in 131 cities. The five-year report shows mixed results. Some cities, like Varanasi, Agra, and Jodhpur, have seen big improvements. But others are still struggling with high pollution levels.
Out of 49 cities, 27 have seen their PM2.5 levels improve over the past five years. For PM10, 24 out of 46 cities have seen improvements.
Air quality analysis shows mixed results
In 2023, Delhi had the highest PM2.5 levels at 102 µg/m³, a slight drop from 2022. Patna had the highest PM10 levels at 212.1 µg/m³, a rise from the previous year. Of the 20 most polluted cities in 2023, half saw improvements in PM2.5 levels over the five-year period. For PM10, 14 out of 19 cities saw improvements.
But the report also highlights ongoing challenges. Some cities are seeing pollution levels rise, showing how hard it is to meet air quality targets.
Silchar, in Assam, had the lowest PM2.5 level in 2023 at 9.6 µg/m³. But even this is nearly double the safe limit set by the World Health Organization. Silchar also had the lowest PM10 level at 29.2 µg/m³, again nearly double the WHO limit.
Aarti Khosla, Director, Climate Trends said “The National Clean Air Programme has made noteworthy progress in tackling air pollution, witnessing notable reductions in PM2.5 and PM10 levels in top polluted cities, showing there have been efforts underway".
He added, "Despite these positive strides, persistent challenges exist, with some urban areas facing an uptick in pollution concentrations. The program's revised goal of a 40% reduction in particulate matter by 2026 reflects a commitment to ambitious environmental targets. As cities add new air quality monitoring stations, strengthened monitoring will give a better picture of the problem and allow for better mitigation measures".
Aarti further added, "These must feed into the next phase of the NCAP and sustained efforts must continue for achieving nationwide cleaner air, underscoring the importance of robust regulatory frameworks aligned with global standards and public health gains.”
Key Findings
Over the past five years, since the launch of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), various cities in India have shown significant changes in their air quality. Varanasi, for instance, has made remarkable progress by reducing its PM2.5 levels by 72% and PM10 levels by 69%, surpassing its targets set for 2026. This achievement was facilitated by an increase in active monitors from one in 2019 to four in 2023, maintaining an uptime close to 100%.
Positive trends were also observed in other cities. Agra achieved a 53% reduction in PM2.5, followed by Jodhpur with a 50% decrease. In Odisha, Talcher reduced its PM10 levels by 39%, and Kalaburagi in Karnataka saw a 32% decrease.
However, challenges persist in some cities. Navi Mumbai, Ujjain, and Mumbai witnessed an increase in PM2.5 levels over the five-year period. Despite retaining the highest PM2.5 levels in 2023, Delhi showed a marginal improvement since 2019.
Regional disparities were also evident. The Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) remains vulnerable, with 18 of the top 20 cities with the highest PM2.5 levels located in this region. Cities outside the IGP, such as Guwahati and Rourkela, also featured among the most polluted for PM2.5.
The observed reductions in pollution levels can be attributed to various factors, including the city’s location, emission sources, and meteorological conditions. The longer particulate matter resides in the atmosphere, the more it contributes to PM levels.
Trends in Most and Least Polluted Cities
In the analysis of air quality trends spanning from 2019 to 2023, notable improvements in PM2.5 levels were identified in 10 out of 15 cities, even in notoriously polluted areas like Delhi and Patna. However, Ujjain and Amritsar faced a concerning deterioration of 46.5% and 18.4%, respectively.
Conversely, 14 out of 19 cities witnessed enhancements in PM10 levels, including Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, and Meerut. On the contrary, cities like Patna, Muzaffarpur, and Jaipur experienced a decline.
The report also delves into air quality trends in state capital cities, such as Delhi, Lucknow, Mumbai, and others. Delhi, equipped with the highest number of government air quality monitoring stations, saw a modest 5.9% decline in PM2.5 levels. Other cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Kolkata showcased reductions, while Mumbai faced a 38% increase in PM2.5 levels, corresponding to an expansion in active monitoring stations.
Furthermore, the study scrutinized the utilization of funds in non-attainment cities over the five-year period. The union government disbursed over ₹9649.99 crores through the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and the Fifteenth Finance Commission.
Approximately 60% of these funds were utilized by urban local bodies, with variations observed among cities. Some cities, like Thane and Ulhasnagar, exceeded allocated funds in their air quality initiatives, while others, including Visakhapatnam and Nashik, spent none. The report underscores the complexity of factors influencing air quality and the need for continued efforts to combat pollution.
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