The government Tuesday launched a portal, PRANA, to track the progress of the National Clean Air Programme, with Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav saying the country is committed to ensuring clean air and blue skies to everybody.
During the launch event held at the ministry headquarters here on the occasion of ‘International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies’, Yadav also inaugurated a smog tower at Anand Vihar, saying it was experimental technology and its impact will be observed for two years.
- PRANA Portal will be used to track the progress of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in order to comply with India’s commitment to ensure clean air and blue skies to everybody.
- This portal was launched on the occasion of ‘International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies’ in non-attainment cities (NAC).
- Non-attainment cities are those cities that failed to meet the National air quality standards in a five-year period.
- With India’s efforts, 86 cities showed a better air quality in 2019 and it increased to 104 cities in 2020.
India’s target
Environment ministry and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) seeks to achieve a 20-30 percent reduction in particulate matter (PM10 as well as PM2.5) concentrations in India by 2024.
How India will achieve its target?
In order to achieve the target, India has prepared and is implementing city-specific action plans to improve air quality in 132 NACs/Million Plus Cities. It targets city-specific air polluting sources like soil & road dust, vehicles, MSW burning, domestic fuel, construction material, and industries.
About PRANA Portal
PRANA portal will help in tracking the physical and financial status of city air action plan implementation. It will also disseminate information on air quality to the public.
