The Indian government, responding to a Rajya Sabha question by Congress MP Pramod Tiwari, challenged the credibility of the 2024 World Air Quality Report by Swiss firm IQAir, which ranked India as the fifth most polluted country with an average PM2.5 concentration of 50.6 µg/m³, over 10 times the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.
Union Minister of State for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh argued that the report’s methodology, relying on 62% non-government data from low-cost sensors, introduces inaccuracies. “Only 38% of data comes from government agencies, and population-weighted urban data may not reflect national averages, making rankings potentially misleading,” Singh said.
Singh clarified that no conclusive data directly links air pollution to deaths, citing multiple factors like diet, socio-economic conditions, and heredity affecting health. He acknowledged air pollution’s role in respiratory ailments but emphasized that isolating it as a sole cause of mortality lacks scientific backing.
Addressing concerns about unutilized Environmental Protection Charge (EPC) and Environmental Compensation (EC) funds, Singh reported that of Rs 620.6 crore in the EC account, Rs 80.82 crore has been spent, Rs 138.38 crore committed, and Rs 284.18 crore is sub-judice per National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders, leaving Rs 117.22 crore available. For the EPC fund, Rs 527.91 crore has accrued, with Rs 173 crore disbursed and Rs 222.83 crore allocated, leaving Rs 78.08 crore for 2025-26.
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Defending the government’s multi-sectoral approach under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), launched in 2019, Singh highlighted city-specific plans for 130 non-attainment cities, targeting road dust (40-50% of PM10), vehicles, industries, and biomass burning. Measures include road improvements, traffic decongestion, and greening initiatives. To curb stubble burning, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) mandates 5-10% biomass co-firing in thermal plants near Delhi. Since 2019-20, Rs 13,036.52 crore has been released to cities, with Rs 9,209.44 crore utilized for pollution control.
Posts on X reflect mixed sentiment, with some praising NCAP’s progress, noting a 7% PM2.5 drop in 2024, while others, including Jairam Ramesh, criticize persistent high pollution levels in cities like Delhi (91.6 µg/m³). Critics argue that inconsistent policy enforcement and reliance on potentially inaccurate data hinder progress, underscoring the need for enhanced monitoring and stricter regulations.
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