Uttar Pradesh Unveils Rs 194 Crore Clean Air Initiative in State Budget 2026-27
The Uttar Pradesh government has proposed a significant allocation of Rs 194 crore in the state budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year to fund the Uttar Pradesh Clean Air Management Project (UPCAMP). This ambitious initiative is designed to tackle the pressing issue of air pollution across the state through a comprehensive, multisectoral approach.
Project Overview and Governance Structure
UPCAMP is a World Bank-aided project set to span six years, from 2025 to 2031. The state cabinet granted its approval for both the project and the newly established UP Clean Air Management Authority in November 2024. To oversee implementation, a governing body will be formed, chaired by the Uttar Pradesh chief secretary, with principal secretaries and additional chief secretaries nominated as members.
Innovative Airshed-Based Strategy
A key feature of UPCAMP is its reliance on airshed-based strategies to combat pollution. An airshed is defined as an area from which a region draws its air mass, and Uttar Pradesh's larger airshed encompasses the entire Indo-Gangetic Plain. This project marks India's first-of-its-kind air basin-based air quality management effort.
The strategies are grounded in extensive scientific studies conducted by the World Bank in collaboration with prestigious institutions, including IIT Kanpur, IIT Delhi, and the Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU). Additionally, the project utilizes the GAINS model developed by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in Austria. The primary objective is to strengthen airshed-based management and reduce emissions across multiple critical sectors.
Multisectoral Interventions and Key Initiatives
The project targets pollution reduction in several key areas through specific, actionable measures:
- Household and Transport: Clean cooking solutions will be provided to approximately 3.9 million households. In the transport sector, the initiative will promote clean mobility by operating 15,000 electric three-wheelers and 500 electric buses in major cities such as Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, and Gorakhpur. Incentives will also be offered for replacing 13,500 polluting heavy vehicles.
- Agriculture and Livestock Management: UPCAMP will focus on enhancing nutrient use efficiency technologies. This includes deploying nitrogen monitoring systems in agricultural fields, strengthening laboratories at state agricultural universities, and improving livestock waste management through the standardized use of manure-based fertilizers and biogas slurry.
- Industrial Sector: The project will provide incentives for adopting resource-efficient brick manufacturing techniques and tunnel kilns. It will also develop clean air management plans for industrial clusters and conduct policy development and feasibility studies to transition from mini-boilers to common boiler facilities.
Transboundary Cooperation for Enhanced Effectiveness
Recognizing that air pollution does not respect state borders, the Uttar Pradesh government plans to adopt a strategy to address transboundary emissions. This involves enhancing cooperation with neighboring states to ensure more effective pollution reduction outcomes at a lower overall cost. This collaborative approach is expected to amplify the project's impact across the broader Indo-Gangetic Plain airshed.
By integrating scientific research, innovative technologies, and cross-sectoral policies, the Uttar Pradesh Clean Air Management Project represents a landmark effort in India's fight against air pollution, aiming to deliver tangible improvements in air quality for millions of residents over the coming years.
