Congress Calls NCAP a ‘Notional’ Air Cleanup Sham, Demands Overhaul
Report exposes chronic pollution in 44% of Indian cities, NCAP covers only 4%.
The Congress party on Sunday launched a sharp critique of the central government's handling of air pollution, describing the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) as a "Notional Clear Air Programme" that fails to address India's widespread air quality crisis. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh cited a recent analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) to argue that the government's response remains exceedingly ineffective and inadequate.
The CREA study, based on satellite data from 2019 to 2024 (excluding 2020), revealed that 44 per cent of India's statutory towns—1,787 out of 4,041—suffer from chronic air pollution, with annual PM2.5 levels consistently exceeding national standards over the five-year period. Ramesh described this as confirmation of a long-standing structural crisis affecting cities nationwide, far beyond seasonal or regional concerns.
The former Union Environment Minister highlighted the glaring mismatch between the scale of the problem and the government's intervention. While 1,787 towns face persistent pollution, the NCAP covers only 130 cities. Even among these, 28 lack Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS), leaving authorities without reliable real-time data to assess or manage pollution levels effectively.
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Further exposing the programme's limitations, Ramesh pointed out that of the 102 cities equipped with monitoring infrastructure, 100 recorded PM10 levels at 80 per cent or higher than standards. This means the NCAP currently addresses just 4 per cent of India's chronically polluted cities, rendering it grossly insufficient for the magnitude of the national emergency.
The Congress has demanded a comprehensive overhaul and reform of the NCAP to ensure it becomes a truly effective mechanism capable of tackling the structural roots of air pollution across the country. Ramesh urged immediate expansion of coverage, robust monitoring systems, and decisive policy action to protect public health from the growing threat of toxic air.
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