Manual monitoring stations to monitor ambient air quality to go up from 818 to 1936 by FY 2025-26
An average of 2–3 monitoring stations to be installed in each city under NCAP
Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today informed that ambient air quality monitoring network of the country presently consists of 1340 stations (Manual + CAAQM Stations) at present, covering 489 cities in 28 States and 7 Union Territories (UT). The rural network consists of 26 manual stations in 26 villages covering 1 state & 1 UT.
In the written reply it was stated that Government has proposed to augment the manual monitoring stations from 818 to 1936 by FY 2025-26 to monitor ambient air quality under National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP). Accordingly, Central Pollution Control Board in association with State Pollution Control Boards /Pollution Control Committees has established 910 NAMP stations (manual) till date. Further, it is proposed to set-up 100 monitoring stations in the rural areas and 150 CAAQMS under National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) with an average of 2–3 stations in each city to be installed, prioritizing the Indo-Gangetic plain by 2024.
The expansion of air quality monitoring network is a continuous process and has been already planned and more cities are expected to be added soon. The expansion is being done in a phase wise manner as per criteria evolved for ambient air quality monitoring network starting with non-attainment cities, mega cities, million plus / metropolitan cities, cities in Indo-Gangetic plain, uncovered district headquarters, industrial city, coastal city, ecologically sensitive areas and rural areas.
In the FY 2021-22 an amount of Rs. 2, 09, 64,000/- has been released for the establishment of new manual stations which includes 17 rural areas.
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