Center will give national capital ₹18 crore under the National Clean Air Program (NCAP) this year to cross over the critical gap in air pollution management. This is the first time for Delhi that it will get funding from the NCAP for a 20-30% reduction in PM2.5 and PM10 concentration by 2024, with 2017 being the base year for comparison.
The NCAP covers 132 non-attainment cities, which doesn’t meet the prescribed National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). A Union Environment Ministry official said that the national capital did not receive any funds under the NCAP for two years as it had other assets available a green cess is levied on diesel vehicles above 2,000 cc, which is charged by the Central Pollution Fund Controlling Board and pollution tax on commercial vehicles entering Delhi. In addition, this time the availability of funds under NCAP has improved.
