In a remarkable achievement for Himachal Pradesh, the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Government of India, has honored Parwanoo and Kala Amb towns with the prestigious ‘Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2023 Award.’ These towns secured the first and second national ranks in Category-3 of non-attainment towns with populations less than 3 lakhs.
Award Presentation by Distinguished Guests
The coveted award ceremony took place on September 7th, 2023, during the ‘Swachch Vayu Divas’ held at the Kushabhau Thakre Hall, International Convention Centre in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. The esteemed guests, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, and Bhupendra Yadav, Hon’ble Union Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Government of India, presented the cash awards of Rs. 37.50 lakhs and Rs. 25.00 lakhs to Parwanoo and Kala Amb, respectively. Anil Joshi (IFS), Member Secretary of the Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board, received the awards on behalf of the state.
Acknowledging Excellence in Air Quality
Sanjay Gupta (IAS), Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board, expressed his delight and congratulated the state board and all key stakeholders for their effective execution of the Action Plan components aimed at improving air quality. He emphasized the significant role played by the state board in enforcing pollution control and environmental laws statewide.
Pride in Environmental Achievement
Anil Joshi (IFS), Member Secretary of the Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board, conveyed his immense pride in the state’s recognition as the best-performing cities in air quality improvement, surpassing 131 non-attainment cities for the fiscal year 2023-24.
Commitment to Sustainable Air Quality (Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2023 Award )
Prabodh Saxena, IAS, Chief Secretary of the Government of Himachal Pradesh and Chairman of the State-level Air Quality Monitoring Committee, extended his congratulations to the state, district-level implementation committees, and all stakeholder departments. He applauded their sustained efforts, which resulted in a substantial reduction in PM10 concentration in the ambient environment. He also assured continued commitment to enhancing the air quality of these towns for a sustainable environment.
A Bright Future for All Towns (Parwanoo And Kala Amb Towns Win ‘Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2023’ Award)
The state remains hopeful that all seven towns will soon emerge from their categorization under NAC/T(s), with continuous and persistent efforts maintained by all stakeholder departments.
The Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board expresses gratitude for the financial assistance provided by the Central Pollution Control Board and the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Government of India, under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). This support has facilitated various activities aimed at mitigating air pollution in all NAC/T(s) of the state.
National Clean Air Programme (NCAP): A Vision for Cleaner Air
The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) initiated the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in 2018 with the goal of improving air quality in 131 Non-Attainment Cities/Towns across India. This comprehensive program encompasses various strategies to contain and reduce air pollution, including controlling vehicular emissions, curbing road dust and fugitive emissions, managing air pollution from biomass burning, addressing construction and demolition activities, and tackling industrial air pollution. Himachal Pradesh’s exemplary efforts in achieving the ‘Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2023 Award’ underscore its commitment to a cleaner and healthier environment for all its residents.
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