Surat has been recognized as the leading major city in India for air quality improvements, according to the latest rankings presented at the Swachh Vayu Survekshan 2024. The awards were announced during a national workshop held in Jaipur to mark the “International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies.”
The Union Environment Ministry honored Surat, Jabalpur, and Agra as the top three cities with populations exceeding one million for their significant progress in air quality. Surat, in particular, was lauded for its notable enhancements, which have set a benchmark for other cities.
For cities with populations between three lakh and ten lakh, Firozabad (UP), Amravati (Maharashtra), and Jhansi (UP) were recognized for their achievements. In the category for cities with populations under three lakh, Raebareli (UP), Nalgonda (Telangana), and Nalagarh (Himachal Pradesh) emerged as the leaders.
The Swachh Vayu Survekshan initiative assesses cities based on their air quality and the implementation of activities outlined in their city action plans. The evaluation criteria include road paving, mechanical sweeping, bioremediation of legacy waste, solid waste management, and the conversion of reclaimed dumpsites into green spaces, among other practices.
The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), launched in 2019, aims to reduce particulate pollution by 20-30% by 2024, using 2017 as the base year. This target has since been revised to a 40% reduction by 2026, with 2019-20 as the new base year. The program focuses on 131 non-attainment cities that have consistently failed to meet national ambient air quality standards between 2011 and 2015.
These awards highlight the successful efforts of cities in addressing air pollution through comprehensive and innovative measures, setting an example for others to follow in the pursuit of cleaner air.
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