Ludhiana Among India's Top 10 Most Polluted Cities, Details Inside
Ludhiana has been ranked among the top ten most polluted cities in India,
Most Polluted Cities in Punjab: Ludhiana has been ranked among the top ten most polluted cities in India, according to a report submitted by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. It is the only city from Punjab to feature on this list of the country's most polluted urban areas.
In response to a query from Rajya Sabha MP Parimal Nathwani of Andhra Pradesh, who asked about the top 20 polluted cities in India and their global rankings, the ministry provided details on 131 non-attainment and Million Plus Cities identified under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). This program aims to enhance air quality across these cities.
According to the list, which ranks cities based on their average PM 10 levels for the fiscal year 2023-24, Ludhiana holds the tenth spot with an average PM 10 concentration of 161 µg/m³. Delhi leads the list with the highest average PM 10 level of 208 µg/m³, followed by Faridabad (190 µg/m³), Noida (182 µg/m³), Patna (178 µg/m³), Ghaziabad (172 µg/m³), Muzaffarpur (168 µg/m³), Angul (167 µg/m³), Gajraula (167 µg/m³), and Anpara (166 µg/m³).
Other cities in Punjab also rank poorly in air quality among the top 50 most polluted cities. Mandi Gobindgarh has an average PM 10 level of 126 µg/m³, Amritsar has 119 µg/m³, and Jalandhar has 111 µg/m³.
The ministry clarified that there is no global ranking for cities based on pollution levels due to differences in monitoring methods and environmental conditions.
To combat pollution, the MoEF&CC launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in January 2019. This long-term strategy aims to prevent, control, and reduce air pollution. Under the NCAP, the goal is to achieve a 20-30% reduction in particulate matter (PM) concentrations by 2024 compared to 2017 levels. The target has since been revised to a 40% reduction or compliance with National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for PM concentrations by 2025-26.
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