Nagaland receives INR 31.13 crore under NCAP as Kohima records 63% improvement in PM10 levels and cleaner air quality
KOHIMA — The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has released INR 31.13 crore to Nagaland under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) between FY 2019-20 and FY 2025-26, while Kohima recorded a 63% improvement in PM10 levels during the period.
This was stated by Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav in a written reply to the Lok Sabha on Monday.
According to the data furnished by the minister, Nagaland's geographical area, as per the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023, is 16,579 sq km, of which 12,616.49 sq km is under forest and tree cover, accounting for 76.10% of the state's total geographical area.
The minister said that Nagaland is among the states that received air quality performance-based incentive grants under the NCAP to implement city-specific action plans aimed at improving air quality. The state received INR 31.13 crore during FY 2019-20 to FY 2025-26.
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Data on PM10 concentration under the NCAP showed that Kohima's annual average PM10 level declined from 127 μg/m³ in 2017-18 to 47 μg/m³ in 2025-26, reflecting a 63% improvement.
In Dimapur, the annual average PM10 concentration fell from 142 μg/m³ in 2017-18 to 110 μg/m³ in 2025-26, registering a 22.5% improvement.
Yadav said that the NCAP was launched to improve air quality across 130 cities in 24 states and Union territories through a coordinated approach involving the central government, state governments and urban local bodies.
He informed the Lok Sabha that INR 16,423.56 crore has been released to 130 cities under the programme for implementing air quality improvement measures through city action plans.
Of the total allocation, INR 13,561.52 crore was released to 48 million-plus cities and urban agglomerations through the 15th Finance Commission's Million-Plus Cities Challenge Fund between FY 2020-21 and FY 2025-26. Another INR 2,862.04 crore was released to 82 non-attainment cities under the Ministry's Central Sector Scheme, 'Control of Pollution', between FY 2019-20 and FY 2025-26.