Hey there, folks! Let’s dive into the latest news about air quality in Maharashtra, specifically focusing on the 19 National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) cities in the state.
In 2024, all 19 NCAP cities in Maharashtra exceeded the PM10 annual National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) of 60 μg/m3. That’s a cause for concern, right? Six cities saw an increase in PM10 concentration compared to the baseline year of 2017-18, including Jalgaon, Aurangabad, Navi Mumbai, Solapur, Jalna, and Kolhapur. It’s not all bad news though – 12 cities did show improvement in PM10 levels, but they still remain higher than the NAAQS.
Mumbai led the pack with a whopping 46% reduction in PM10 concentration compared to the baseline year, followed by Thane (33%), Badlapur (32%), and Ulhasnagar (32%). Interestingly, Virar saw no change in its PM10 concentration, staying at 99 μg/m³, the same as the baseline year.
When it comes to fund utilization, the state received ₹1,754 crores in funds, with ₹1,097 crores being utilized, resulting in 63% fund utilization. The NCAP implementation committee has set a 75% fund utilization target for the release of additional funds, but nine cities in Maharashtra fell short of this mark.
Source apportionment studies are also crucial in understanding pollution sources, with only 8 out of 19 cities in Maharashtra completing them so far. Analysts are raising concerns about meeting the ambitious 40% reduction target within the next two years, emphasizing the importance of expediting these studies and aligning funding with pollution sources for effective interventions.
It’s clear that there’s still work to be done in improving air quality in Maharashtra, but with continued efforts and targeted interventions, we can hope for a cleaner and healthier future for all. Stay tuned for more updates on this important issue!
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