1. What is the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)?
NCAP is a government initiative in India aiming to reduce particulate matter (PM) pollution by 40% in 131 cities by 2026.
2. What are PM 2.5 and PM 10?
PM 2.5 and PM 10 are particles in the air. PM 2.5 particles are very small, less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, and are considered more harmful. PM 10 particles are less than 10 micrometers in diameter.
3. Why is air quality monitoring important?
Monitoring air quality helps understand pollution levels, identify sources of pollution, and implement measures to improve air quality.
4. Have any cities met the NCAP targets?
Out of 49 studied cities, only four have met or exceeded the targeted decline in PM 2.5 levels.
5. Which city showed significant improvement in air quality?
Varanasi showed a notable improvement, with a 72% reduction in PM 2.5 and 69% reduction in PM 10 levels.
6. What challenges are cities facing in improving air quality?
Challenges include increasing pollution levels in some areas, insufficient air quality monitoring stations, and varied effectiveness of pollution control measures.
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