Shimla
The Ministry of Environment Forest & Climate Change, Govt. of India conferred “Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2023 Award” to Parwanoo and Kala Amb towns of the State for achieving first and second ranks respectively at national level under Category-3 of non-attainment towns having less than 3 lakhs of population. The cash award of Rs. 37.50 lakhs and 25.00 lakhs for both these towns respectively were presented by Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Hon’ble Chief Minister, Madhya Pradesh and Shri Bhupendra Yadav, Hon’ble Union Minister, Environment Forest & Climate Change, Govt. of India on Swachch Vayu Divas today on 7th September 2023 held at Kushabhau Thakre Hall, International Convention Centre Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Sh. Anil Joshi (IFS), Member Secretary, Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board has received the award on behalf of the State.
Sh. Sanjay Gupta (IAS) Chairman, of the State Board expressed happiness and congratulated the State Board and all key stakeholders in effective execution of various components of Action Plan for respective cities for improvement in air quality and also effective enforcement of pollution control and environmental laws by the State Board across the State.
Sh. Anil Joshi (IFS), Member Secretary, Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board said it is a matter of great pride for the State to receive first and second awards for best performing cities in air quality improvement programme out of 131 non-attainment cities for the FY 2023-24.
Sh. Prabodh Saxena, IAS, Chief Secretary, GoHP, Chairman of State level Air Quality Monitoring Committee, congratulated the State, District Level Implementation Committee headed by Deputy Commissioners and all the stakeholder departments. He appreciated the sustained efforts by all, resulted in substantial reduction of PM10 concentration in the ambient environment. He further, assured that State would continue to work towards improving air quality of these towns for the sustainable environment.
We are hopeful that all seven towns of the State would come out of categorization under NAC/T(s) for which continuous and persisted efforts shall have to be maintained by all stakeholder Departments. The State Board also acknowledge the financial assistance rendered by the Central Pollution Control Board and MoEF&CC GOI under National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) through which various activities for mitigation of air pollution were implemented in all NAC/T(s) of the State. The Ministry of Environment Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) launched National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in 2018 for containment of air quality in 131 Non-Attainment Cities/ Towns in India. Various components of the Action plan for containment and abatement of Air Pollution were i.e. containment of vehicular emissions, suppression of Road Dust and other fugitive emissions, Control of Air pollution from Bio-Mass Burning, Construction and Demolition activities, Industrial Air Pollution etc.
