GS-PAPER III- IAS MAINS- TOPIC- ENVIRONMENT- 84 cities submit plans for improving air quality by 2024

• One hundred and two cities, considered India’s most polluted, have been tasked with reducing PM (particulate matter) 10 and PM 2.5 levels by 2024, as part of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).
• This was made public in January this year.
• Eighty-four out of the 102 cities that have been tasked with reducing toxic particulate matter levels by 20%-30% by 2024 have submitted proposals for improving Air Quality.
• The States in which the cities are located are expected to produce plans that include increasing the number of monitoring stations, providing technology support, conducting source apportionment studies, and strengthening enforcement.
• For achieving the NCAP targets, cities would be expected to calculate the reduction in pollution, keeping 2017’s average annual PM levels as the base year.
• As part of its public-outreach campaign, the Ministry has collaborated with the Bhamla Foundation, as well as artistes from Bollywood, to develop a theme song Hawa aane de (‘Let the air in’). The song is a call to action for all to come together to combat air pollution.

Q : What are the targets of the National Clean Air Program ? What steps are needed to achieve these targets ? -250 Words 

Courtesy 

byju.com