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PM2.5 pollution in rural and urban India fell by about 19 percent between 2017 and 2022, according to a new analysis. Uttar Pradesh leads the way with a 38 per cent drop in PM2.5 pollution in both urban and rural areas over the same period.
On the other hand, Maharashtra has observed the lowest decline in PM2.5 pollution across the country, according to the study conducted by Climate Trends, a non-governmental environmental think tank, using satellite data from IIT Delhi.
PM2.5 is fine inhalable particulate matter, generally 2.5 micrometers in diameter and smaller, and it poses the greatest health hazard. The accepted annual standard for PM2.5 is 40 micrograms per cubic meter. PM 2.5 levels in rural India in 2022 were 46.8 micrograms per cubic meter, down 19.1% compared to 2017.
PM 2.5 levels in urban India in 2022 were at 46.4 micrograms per cubic meter, down 18.7% compared to 2017. The study shows that average annual PM 2.5 levels in rural and urban areas of India were the highest (57.4 micrograms per cubic meter and 57.6 micrograms per cubic meter). cubic meters, respectively) in 2017 and lowest (45.5 micrograms per cubic meter and 45.6 micrograms per cubic meter) in 2020. The annual average levels of PM 2.5 in rural and urban areas in most states have seen a similar trajectory over the six years past.
Rural areas experienced a greater decrease in PM 2.5 levels. For example, rural PM 2.5 levels in Karnataka decreased by 18.1 percent, while urban levels decreased by 16.2 percent in the same period.
Similarly, rural PM 2.5 levels in West Bengal decreased by 15.6% and urban PM 2.5 levels decreased by 14.9%. The analysis showed that the concentration of PM2.5 is equally high in both rural and urban areas, confirming the need for the next phase of the National Clean Air Program (NCAP) to cover rural areas.
NCAP is a nationwide strategy to reduce the concentration of PM2.5 and PM10 by between 20 and 30 percent by 2024, with 2017 as the base year for comparison. The program covers 131 non-achieving cities that have not met the national ambient air quality standards for five consecutive years (2011-2015).
The center has set a new goal of reducing particulate matter concentrations by 40 percent in cities covered by the National AIDS Program by 2026.
Aarti Khosla, director of Climate Trends, a research-based initiative focused on environment and climate issues, said the analysis shows that states in the Indo-Gangetic plains such as Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana and Bihar have seen significant decreases in PM 2.5 pollution indicates continued air pollution control focus in the region. .
The study showed that western states such as Maharashtra and Gujarat have made little progress and have seen their air pollution problem become significant in recent years.
According to the analysis, PM2.5 reductions in the country ranged from about 5 percent to 38 percent. UP saw a decrease of 37.8 per cent and 38.1 per cent in PM 2.5 levels in urban and rural areas, respectively, from 2017 to 2022. Maharashtra recorded a decrease of only 7.7 per cent and 9.5 per cent in PM 2.5 pollution in urban and rural areas, respectively. When breaking down the program into non-NCAP states, a more significant drawback appears in the states where the program is implemented.
The analysis also highlights that air pollution levels in rural areas are not far behind. The results show that gains come across an entire region or air shed, making a stronger case for air shed management while also focusing on excessive local pollution. Khosla said the first deadline for the 2024 NCAP program is near and work should go beyond cities in the next phase of the program.
SN Tripathi of IIT-Kanpur and Steering Committee Member, NCAP, Union Ministry of Environment, said a reduction of more than 10 percent in PM2.5 levels over the time scale should be considered positive. “However, anything below 10 percent in the last six years needs to be evaluated.”
Arun Sharma, ICMR-NIRCMD Director, Jodhpur said: “This analysis is a reaffirmation that air pollution is not a problem of cities alone; exposure.”
(This story was not edited by the News18 staff and was published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)
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