Rs 50 Crores Allotted To Pune For Air Purification Program
Pune, February 8, 2021: Pune will get Rs 50 crore in the coming year to purify the air in the city. About Rs 790 crore has been allocated in the budget for the six most polluted cities in the state. The funds will be provided to prevent air pollution through various initiatives and schemes.
The Union Ministry of Forests and Environment has launched the ‘National Clean Air Program’ in 2018 in view of the rising air pollution in various states and the serious health problems arising in lieu of it. The 42 cities selected across the country include Pune, Aurangabad, Navi Mumbai, Nagpur, Nashik and Vasai-Virar in Maharashtra. According to the new provision, Mumbai will get Rs 232 crores in general and other cities will get Rs 40-50 crores each.
The Centre’s funds will be available in phases. Thereafter, local self-governing bodies, local municipalities are expected to strive towards the reduction of air pollution and the purification of air. If no progress is evident, the funds will be stopped, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board said. Funds provided to improve air quality should be used by the municipal corporation to control carbon emissions from vehicles, to stop the burning of waste in public places, and to take measures to prevent air pollution from industrial companies. The progress of these cities will be evaluated and the organizations which have bounced back remarkably will receive a good grade in the report sent to the Central Government.
A new communication device will be installed: The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) will install six new devices called Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring System (CAAQMS) in Pune to measure air quality in a more comprehensive manner. Along with Pune, the board has decided to add 41 new stations in the state. There are currently 101 inspection centres and of these, 78 centres are ‘manual’ and 23 centres are of the CAAQMS type.
Rising air pollution in Pune: The increasing urbanization, vehicular fumes, industrial expansion, construction projects have reduced the air quality in Pune in the last few years. The levels of carbon dioxide and particulate matter in the air (particulate matter 2.5 and 10) are outrageously higher than the standards set by the Central Pollution Control Board. This has an adverse effect on public health as well. Transport contributes to air pollution the most in Pune. Nitrogen, sulfur, carbon and other elements are released into the air due to vehicular exhaust. As a result, citizens suffer from itchy eyes, sore throats and skin diseases.
A provision in the budget
– Rs 2217 crore in the budget for 42 cities in the country including Delhi.
– Includes six cities in Maharashtra: Mumbai, Navi Pune, Aurangabad, Nagpur and Vasai-Virar.
– Provision of around crores for prevention of air pollution in Maharashtra.
– Establishment of an independent commission for air quality management throughout the year.
– Central Pollution Control Board has been allocated Rs 470 crores.
– Last year, Pune received a fund of Rs 62 crores.
