A stark new analysis has exposed a massive gap in India's fight against toxic air. While nearly half of the country's cities are grappling with chronic pollution, a mere fraction have a formal plan to clean their skies.
Widespread Pollution, Limited Action
The report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) presents a troubling national picture. Out of 4,041 cities assessed, a staggering 1,787 are identified as polluted. However, the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) currently covers only 67 cities. This means a shocking 96% of persistently polluted urban areas have no clean air action plan in place.
"Nearly 44% of Indian cities face chronic air pollution, indicating a structural problem driven by persistent emission sources rather than short-term episodes," the CREA report states. This highlights that the issue is systemic and requires sustained, year-round intervention, not just episodic responses.
India's Future Pollution Hotspots Revealed
The report, titled 'India's most polluted cities in 2025: The PM2.5 assessment for 2025', forecasts alarming pollution levels. It projects Byrnihat in Assam to be the most polluted city next year, with an annual PM2.5 concentration of 100 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³). The national capital Delhi follows closely at 96 µg/m³, and Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh at 93 µg/m³.
When it comes to the larger PM10 particles, Delhi tops the list with an annual average of 197 µg/m³, which is three times the national safety standard. The analysis tracks PM10 and PM2.5 trends at national, Indo-Gangetic Plain, and National Capital Region levels to identify these emerging pollution hotspots.
Flawed Funding and the Path Forward
The CREA report critically flags a severe misalignment in how funds are allocated under NCAP. It points out that 68% of the programme's funds are spent on road dust management. In contrast, crucial sectors like industrial pollution control, promotion of clean fuels, and public outreach campaigns each receive less than 1% of the total funding.
CREA analyst Manoj Kumar outlined a clear roadmap for improvement. "India's only way forward is to strengthen the country's air quality governance through targeted, science-based reforms," he said. The key recommendations include:
- Prioritising control of PM2.5 and its precursor gases (SO2 and NO2) over PM10.
- Revising the list of 'non-attainment' cities under NCAP to include all polluted areas.
- Setting stricter emission standards for industries and thermal power plants.
- Allocating funding based on local source apportionment studies.
- Adopting an airshed-based approach to tackle pollution at a regional scale, rather than city-by-city.
The report serves as a urgent call for a fundamental overhaul in India's strategy against air pollution, emphasizing that without systemic changes and better resource allocation, clean air will remain a distant dream for millions of citizens.
