Environment Ministry Organizes Swachh Vayu Diwas on International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies

Union Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change observed the 3rd International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies as 'Swachh Vayu Diwas ("Swachh Vayu Neel Gagan") to raise awareness and facilitate actions to improve air quality as part of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, and Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, graced the event. Union Minister Bhupender Yadav also released brochures on capacity building and public outreach under NCAP with best practises in eight cities: Srinagar (All Hands on Board), Varanasi (Nothing Goes to Waste), Bengaluru (Clean Road, Clean City) (Under Control).

Yadav stated in his address that when we launched the Clean Air Mission programme last year, it was our intention to work on it from the ground up because clean air is a government priority. He emphasised the importance of promoting and utilising the wisdom of ordinary people. Yadav reiterated that the Prime Minister's LiFE mission, as stated at COP 26 in Glasgow, must be carried out not only in India but also around the world. The meaning of the LiFE Mission is that resources should be used wisely.

The Minister stated that the National Clean Air Mission programme aims to address air pollution problems at the regional level while taking into account the differences between regions. The solutions to this problem must be socioeconomic in nature. According to the Minister, new start-ups should be encouraged to work on innovative solutions as part of the National Clean Air Mission programme.

Yadav emphasised that we want this innovation to grow into a movement. As a result, the funding arrangement in the NCAP programme has also been made on the basis that those who perform well should be rewarded. We are constantly working on regional workshops at NCAP, he added. The National Clean Air Programme has raised awareness by launching a portal. They are working in conjunction with the State Pollution Control Board. Along with this, a bill passed last year was a new legislative change in itself for Delhi, granting the Trans Boundary Mandate.

Yadav emphasised the importance of educating the locals about the natural heritage. We believe that the environment and development are not antagonistic but rather complementary. We will only be able to achieve our goals if we adopt a scientific attitude and knowledge and provide a dignified life for everyone, he said. Speaking on the occasion, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, MoS MoEFCC, stated that the Swachh Pawan Neel Gagan programme, which has now completed three years, must be passed on to future generations. He stated that air pollution is a global issue, not just in our country. The world is now watching India to see what policy we will take in this matter. Efforts on this issue must be made from the ministry to the panchayat level, he added.

Leena Nandan, Secretary, MoEFCC, Dr. M. M. Kutty, Chairperson, Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), Tanmay Kumar, Chairman, Central Pollution Control Board, Naresh Pal Gangwar, Additional Secretary, MoEFCC, Environment and Urban Development Departments of State Government/UT administrations, State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committees, MoEFCC Integrated Regional Offices, CPCB regional directorates, and 1

The United Nations General Assembly has declared September 7th as "International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies," with the goal of raising awareness and encouraging action to improve air quality. With the global theme of "The Air We Share," it raises awareness about the importance of strengthening national action and regional collaboration to improve air quality this year.

The event provided an opportunity to share success stories from the National Clean Air Programme, an initiative launched in January 2019 to carry forward Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment made in his address to the nation on Independence Day to ensure Clean Air for All, a healthy and productive life for citizens, and the intent to improve air quality in more than 100 cities through a holistic approach.

The National Clean Air Programme aims to improve air quality in 131 cities across the country by reducing Particulate Matter concentrations by 20-30%. It includes 123 Non-Attainment Cities (NAC) that have exceeded the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for 5 years in a row and 42 Cities/Urban Agglomerations with a population of one million or more. Both categories have 34 cities in common.

131 cities across the country have developed City Action Plans and Micro Action Plans to address various sources of poor air quality, such as vehicles, road dust, construction, industries, thermal power plants, waste burning, Construction and Demolition Waste, and so on. When comparing 2021-22 to 2017, there has been an overall improvement in Particulate Matter concentration in 95 cities, including 20 cities that meet National Ambient Air Quality Standards.