Delhi Falls Short of NCAP Pollution Target, Trails Noida and Alwar
The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) shows mixed results across India. Delhi has missed its PM10 reduction target, achieving only a 16% drop against a goal of 22%. This performance leaves the capital trailing behind neighboring cities like Noida and Alwar.
Widespread Disparities in Air Quality Improvements
Data submitted by the Union Environment Ministry to the National Green Tribunal reveals concerning patterns. Nearly one-fifth of the 130 identified non-attainment cities have shown zero reduction in pollution levels since 2017. These cities consistently fail to meet national air quality standards.
Despite these shortcomings, the Ministry maintains that coordinated actions under NCAP have yielded positive outcomes. The data indicates that 103 cities have shown some reduction compared to 2017-18 levels. Among these, 25 cities have achieved the ambitious target of a 40% reduction in PM10 levels.
Overall, 18 cities have met the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for PM10. They keep annual average concentrations below 60 micrograms per cubic meter. PM10 refers to coarse airborne inhalable particles smaller than 10 microns. These particles can cause serious health problems when inhaled.
Non-Performing Cities Concentrated in Specific States
The submission identifies 27 cities that have shown no pollution reduction at all. These underperforming urban areas cluster primarily in Odisha, Maharashtra, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, and Assam.
Nalgonda in Telangana recorded the worst performance with a 52% shortfall from its target. This means pollution levels have actually increased there. Jalgaon in Maharashtra missed its target by 49%. A cluster of industrial cities in Odisha, including Angul, Rourkela, and Balasore, have seen air quality deteriorate significantly compared to the 2017 baseline.
National Capital Region Presents Stark Contrasts
The data reveals striking contrasts within the National Capital Region. While Delhi struggles to curb its coarse particle pollution, reducing levels from 241 µg/m³ in 2017-18 to 203 µg/m³ in 2024-25, its neighbors have performed significantly better.
Noida has recorded a 35% reduction in PM10 levels, comfortably exceeding its 30% target. Similarly, Alwar in Rajasthan has surpassed its 20% reduction goal, achieving a 31% drop. However, Khurja in Uttar Pradesh, another NCR city, has managed only an 18% reduction against a steep interim target of 44%.
Uttar Pradesh Cities Emerge as Top Performers
Cities in Uttar Pradesh, often associated with high pollution loads, have emerged as some of the country's best performers. Bareilly has recorded the highest gains nationally, slashing PM10 levels by 77%, much higher than its 26% target.
Other UP cities, including Firozabad (60%), Moradabad (57%), Raebareli (46%), and Jhansi (45%) have also posted substantial improvements. The list of top performers includes Dehradun in Uttarakhand (57%) and Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu (54%). Notably, no NCR city appears among the top ten cities with the highest pollution reductions.
Program Implementation and Funding
The PM10 level reductions focus on controlling emissions from multiple sources. These include road dust, vehicles, construction activities, open waste burning, and industrial operations. The Centre has released substantial funds totaling Rs 13,784 crore across 130 cities under the programme. This includes 82 non-attainment cities specifically targeted for improvement.
The National Clean Air Programme launched in 2019 as a flagship initiative to tackle severe air pollution. While it has helped achieve positive outcomes in many cities, the data highlights significant challenges that remain. The disparities between cities underscore the complex nature of India's air quality crisis and the need for tailored solutions across different urban environments.
