Deteriorating Pollution in India
India is grappling with severe pollution issues encompassing air, water, and noise, consistently making global headlines. Amidst this crisis, a parliamentary panel has highlighted that the environment ministry utilized less than 1% of the Rs 858 crore allocated for pollution control in 2024-25. This underutilization is particularly alarming given the escalating air pollution in Indian cities.
Spending Deficit and Control of Pollution Scheme
- The "Control of Pollution" scheme, initiated in 2018, aims to monitor and control pollution across India, specifically funded by the government.
- Key component: National Clean Air Programme (Ncap), targeting a 40% reduction in PM 10 levels in 131 cities by 2026, based on 2019-20 figures.
- Allocated budget: Rs 3,072 crore between 2019-20 and 2025-26.
- Reason for fund underutilization: Lack of approval for scheme continuation, indicating insufficient planning and concern.
Air Quality and Global Rankings
India improved its position in the World Air Quality report for 2024, moving from third to fifth rank. However, PM 2.5 concentration remains significantly high at 50.6 micrograms per cubic metre, much above the WHO's recommended level of 5 to 15 micrograms.
- India continues to host 13 of the world’s 20 most polluted cities, with New Delhi ranking second.
- Improvement attributed to outperforming Chad, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo in pollution rankings.
Water Pollution Crisis
The country faces a severe water pollution crisis, with NITI Aayog ranking India 120th out of 122 on the Global Water Quality Index. Currently, 70% of Indian water sources are contaminated.
Public Health and Government Initiatives
Pollution control is imperative for public health, necessitating continuous and expedited action without delays for approvals. The Delhi government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party, has prioritized air and water quality, earmarking Rs 506 crore for the environment and forest department to enhance quality-control systems.