Durgapur, West Bengal: Durgapur is actively pursuing a robust plan to combat particulate pollution, with a determined target of achieving a 10% reduction by the year 2024-25, as stated by Kanchan Ghosh, Nodal Officer for the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in Durgapur.

Ghosh proudly announced that the city has already made significant strides in this endeavour, managing to reduce air pollution by an impressive 12.7% between the years 2021-22 and 2022-23. This progress has been made possible through strategic investments, as Ghosh explained, “Using the funds provided by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, the ULB has purchased mechanical sweepers, mist guns, and initiated greening efforts throughout the city. These measures have yielded tangible results, with air pollution levels, specifically PM10, dropping from 135 micrograms per cubic metre to 117 micrograms per cubic metre upon evaluation.”

Ghosh affirmed the city’s commitment to intensify these efforts in the upcoming year, with the overarching goal of achieving a 10% reduction in particulate pollution, thus contributing to a cleaner and healthier environment for its residents.

A transformative Media Leadership Workshop on Air Quality was recently convened in Durgapur on Wednesday that aimed at empowering journalists to play a pivotal role in addressing the critical issue of air pollution. The workshop, organised by Asar and the SwitchON Foundation, as a part of the Cleaner Air and Better Health (CABH) initiative, a five year (2021 to 2026) project supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). It aims to strengthen air pollution mitigation and reduce exposure to air pollution in India by establishing evidence-based models for better air quality management. The project is being implemented by a consortium led by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) and includes ASAR Social Impact Advisors (ASAR), Environmental Design Solutions (EDS), Enviro Legal Defence Firm (ELDF), and Vital Strategies (VS).

Anindita Mukherjee, Administrator of Durgapur, emphasised the collective effort required to achieve clean air, stating, “Together, we are rekindling the dream of clear blue skies from our childhood. Durgapur’s commitment to combat pollution through initiatives like smokeless chulhas, efficient waste management, and dust reduction is the first step. Now, we need the support of civil society organisations and the collective effort of our citizens to turn this dream of clean air into our cherished reality.”

Experts and officials emphasised the pivotal role of the media in building awareness about air pollution, holding policy makers accountable, and making air quality a central issue in public discourse.

Abhishek Kar, Senior Programme Lead at the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), highlighted the significance of media engagement, stating, “It is vital to report on air pollution. The impact of air pollution on economic losses, amounting to 1.4% of India’s GDP, and there is need for increased investments to combat this crisis. Durgapur’s action plan stands as a testament to its commitment, with 10.7 crore in funds already released. It’s not just about numbers; it’s about rebuilding the narrative on air pollution, humanising the problem in all its complexity. In a country with a 12,000 crore fund to combat air pollution, the power of impactful storytelling, through short videos and innovative formats, can drive real change.”

“In the pursuit of cleaner air, we must navigate the complex web of pollutants and focus on driving efficient scalable solutions, while also shedding light on the invisible threats and the crucial role of urban ventilation corridors. Our commitment to air quality monitoring and data-driven solutions can lead us to a healthier future for all.” said Abhijeet Chatterjee, Associate Professor, Bose Institute, DST Govt of India, Kolkata.

Professor Gazala Habib, Associate Professor, IIT Delhi and Institute of Repute for Durgapur  underscored the importance of understanding the sources of air pollution and quantifying health risks due to aerosols. She emphasised the need for emission inventory development and improving climate and health assessments.

Among other speakers, Swagata Dey from the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) presented crucial details on the local area management plan or hyper-local solutions needed to tackle air pollution. There was also an open session where journalists posed questions to the panel of experts on various issues related to sources polluting Durgapur’s air.

The key focus of the workshop was to build the capacity of journalists to better report the Government of India’s NCAP, which aims to combat deteriorating ambient air quality in 132 “non-attainment” cities, including six in West Bengal. These cities have been struggling to meet air pollution standards, with the NCAP initially targeting a 20-30% reduction in PM2.5 and PM10 pollutants by 2024. However, this target was later revised to a 40% reduction by 2026. At the same time, the targets

As journalists leave the workshop armed with knowledge and insights, the hope is that they will continue to shine a spotlight on the pressing issue of air pollution, driving meaningful change towards cleaner and healthier cities.

Media Dossier

Contact: Vinay Jaju | M: +91 9331178105 | Email: VJ@SwitchON.org.in