A recent government presentation has exposed a grim reality about air quality management in Madhya Pradesh, revealing that the state capital Bhopal and the historic city of Gwalior are the worst performers under a key national initiative. This revelation comes just days after the state pollution control board ordered an immediate shutdown of all automated air quality monitoring stations in Indore, citing alleged deliberate manipulation of pollution data.
Performance Rankings Reveal Stark Contrast
The presentation, prepared for the upcoming Collectors-Commissioners Conference to be chaired by the chief secretary on January 15, ranked the state's districts based on their performance under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). Among the seven NCAP cities in MP—Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur, Gwalior, Ujjain, Dewas, and Sagar—the rankings placed Indore and Dewas at the top. In a stark contrast, Bhopal and Gwalior were found at the very bottom of the list.
Adding to the concern, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) rated the air quality index in both Bhopal and Gwalior as 'poor' on Friday. The assessment is part of a broader evaluation where cities not covered under NCAP, like Narsinghpur and Singrauli, also fared poorly, ranking second-last and last respectively on air pollution levels.
Scrutiny Over Data and Action Plans
The ranking disclosure follows a controversial move by the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board (MPPCB). The board recently ordered the immediate shutdown of automated air quality monitoring stations in Indore and reprimanded the city's civic body. The action was taken over allegations of 'deliberate' installation of AQI devices in green spaces, a practice suspected of manipulating pollution data to show better air quality.
Under NCAP guidelines, all seven cities have prepared and submitted action plans for improving air quality for the year 2025-26 to the CPCB. Furthermore, Indore, Jabalpur, Gwalior, and Dewas have formulated specific winter action plans. However, Bhopal, Ujjain, and Sagar are yet to finalise their winter strategies. All cities are mandated to prepare monthly progress reports detailing physical progress and fund utilisation for the financial year 2024-25.
Broader Context and Financial Allocation
This situation unfolds against a backdrop of increasing judicial scrutiny. On June 7, the central bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in Bhopal formed a seven-member expert committee. This committee is tasked with investigating the worsening air quality in eight MP cities, including Bhopal, which are long designated as 'non-attainment' zones for consistently failing to meet national standards for fine particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10).
Substantial funds have been allocated for this fight. The Union government has released Rs 650.54 crore for Madhya Pradesh under the NCAP and the 15th Finance Commission, covering the period from the financial year 2019-20 to 2024-25 (till February 10, 2025).
Officials from the state pollution watchdog pointed to local municipalities as the primary entities responsible for controlling AQI levels in their areas. They identified a lack of prompt road dust management as one of the key factors contributing to the rising pollution levels in these urban centres. The combined picture highlights significant challenges in MP's ongoing battle for cleaner air, marked by poor performance, allegations of data fudging, and urgent calls for more effective on-ground action.
