LUCKNOW: The latest assessment under India’s National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) reveals a mixed scenario for Uttar Pradesh, as its three cities – Noida, Meerut, and Ghaziabad – are among India’s 20 most polluted cities for key air pollutants – PM2.5 and PM10.
Despite improvements in air quality in the past five years, Noida, Meerut, and Ghaziabad are ranked ranked 5th, 6th, and 7th, respectively, in terms of PM2.5 pollution.Though PM2.5 level reduced in Noida from 113.8 ug/m in 2019 to 83.6 ug/m in 2023, it still has high pollution levels.
Track the pollution level in your city
Similarly, Meerut witnessed a decline in PM2.5 levels from 140 ug/m in 2019 to 81.2 ug/m this year. In terms of PM10 pollution, Noida and Ghaziabad are ranked 4th and 5th, with Meerut at 7th place among the most polluted cities. Noida’s PM10 level decreased from 216.6 ug/m in 2019 to 194 ug/m in 2023, and Ghaziabad’s PM10 level dropped from 243.3 ug/m to 184.3 ug/m during the same period.
The review, conducted by Respirer Living Sciences, a climate science IoT startup, and Climate Trends, a research-based consulting firm, based on NCAP data, spotlights Varanasi as the leader in the country’s effort to reduce air pollution. Analysing data from continuous air quality monitors installed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the report indicates that Varanasi has achieved the most significant decrease in PM2.5 and PM10 levels between 2019 and 2023. Varanasi showcases a remarkable 72% reduction in PM2.5 (from 96 ug/m to 26.9 ug/m) and a 69% reduction in PM10 (from 202.5 ug/m to 62.4 ug/m), already surpassing its 2026 targets of a 40% reduction for both pollutants.
During the five-year period, Varanasi increased the number of active monitors to four in 2023, with an uptime of almost 100%, compared to just one active monitor in 2019, with an uptime of just over 24%.
Agra follows Varanasi with a 53% reduction in PM2.5 (from 73 ug/m to 33.7 ug/m). The review indicates that the Taj city witnessed an increase in both the number of active monitors and their uptime from 2019 to 2023. Among other UP cities with more than 40% reduction in PM2.5 levels compared to 2019 were Kanpur (50%), Meerut (42%), and Lucknow (41%), demonstrating a consistent year-on-year decline, according to the data.
Speaking on the index, Aarti Khosla, director of Climate Trends, said, “In the past five years, UP has seen several positives in its NCAP journey. Many non-attainment cities have installed numerous continuous air quality monitors and strengthened the monitoring network.
Cities like Varanasi, Agra, Lucknow, Kanpur, Meerut, Ghaziabad, and Noida showed a significant (between 26% to 72%) decrease in PM2.5 levels from 2019 to 2023.
Similar reductions were observed in PM10 levels as well. Further research must be conducted to understand how these cities have achieved the pollution cuts.”
Despite improvements in air quality in the past five years, Noida, Meerut, and Ghaziabad are ranked ranked 5th, 6th, and 7th, respectively, in terms of PM2.5 pollution.Though PM2.5 level reduced in Noida from 113.8 ug/m in 2019 to 83.6 ug/m in 2023, it still has high pollution levels.
Track the pollution level in your city
Similarly, Meerut witnessed a decline in PM2.5 levels from 140 ug/m in 2019 to 81.2 ug/m this year. In terms of PM10 pollution, Noida and Ghaziabad are ranked 4th and 5th, with Meerut at 7th place among the most polluted cities. Noida’s PM10 level decreased from 216.6 ug/m in 2019 to 194 ug/m in 2023, and Ghaziabad’s PM10 level dropped from 243.3 ug/m to 184.3 ug/m during the same period.
The review, conducted by Respirer Living Sciences, a climate science IoT startup, and Climate Trends, a research-based consulting firm, based on NCAP data, spotlights Varanasi as the leader in the country’s effort to reduce air pollution. Analysing data from continuous air quality monitors installed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the report indicates that Varanasi has achieved the most significant decrease in PM2.5 and PM10 levels between 2019 and 2023. Varanasi showcases a remarkable 72% reduction in PM2.5 (from 96 ug/m to 26.9 ug/m) and a 69% reduction in PM10 (from 202.5 ug/m to 62.4 ug/m), already surpassing its 2026 targets of a 40% reduction for both pollutants.
During the five-year period, Varanasi increased the number of active monitors to four in 2023, with an uptime of almost 100%, compared to just one active monitor in 2019, with an uptime of just over 24%.
Agra follows Varanasi with a 53% reduction in PM2.5 (from 73 ug/m to 33.7 ug/m). The review indicates that the Taj city witnessed an increase in both the number of active monitors and their uptime from 2019 to 2023. Among other UP cities with more than 40% reduction in PM2.5 levels compared to 2019 were Kanpur (50%), Meerut (42%), and Lucknow (41%), demonstrating a consistent year-on-year decline, according to the data.
Speaking on the index, Aarti Khosla, director of Climate Trends, said, “In the past five years, UP has seen several positives in its NCAP journey. Many non-attainment cities have installed numerous continuous air quality monitors and strengthened the monitoring network.
Cities like Varanasi, Agra, Lucknow, Kanpur, Meerut, Ghaziabad, and Noida showed a significant (between 26% to 72%) decrease in PM2.5 levels from 2019 to 2023.
Similar reductions were observed in PM10 levels as well. Further research must be conducted to understand how these cities have achieved the pollution cuts.”
