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Noida: 40% Clean Air Funds Spent, Roads Get Bulk
14 Jul
Summary
- Noida Authority utilized 40% of National Clean Air Programme funds over five years.
- Most expenditure, Rs 22 crore, was directed towards road construction and strengthening.
- PM10 levels in Noida saw a 21% reduction since 2020-21, claims the authority.
Noida Authority has reported utilizing 40% of the funds allocated under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) over the past five years. The expenditure, totaling Rs 34.3 crore out of Rs 84.2 crore released by the Central Pollution Control Board, has primarily focused on infrastructure development. Around Rs 22 crore, a significant portion, was invested in strengthening and building roads.
While the Authority states that dust mitigation measures have resulted in a 21% reduction in PM10 levels, bringing them to an average of 155 µg/m³, environmental activists remain skeptical. The Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board has previously imposed substantial environmental compensation, indicating ongoing pollution concerns. The Authority maintains that construction activities inevitably cause temporary disruptions.
Concerns have been raised regarding the effectiveness of pollution control measures, with a petitioner alleging that much of the work exists only on paper. The Authority counters that PM2.5 levels are influenced by factors beyond its direct control, such as vehicular emissions and biomass burning. Despite the dispute, the Authority has acquired sprinkler trucks and mechanical sweepers to aid in its efforts.
