Varanasi tops cities in cutting PM10 levels, says govt; CSE flags city-based approach
Ninety-five out of 132 polluted cities identified under a national programme on clean air have shown improvement in air quality by reducing particulate matter (PM10) concentration in 2021-22 compared to 2017, with Varanasi recording the highest 53% reduction in the level of hazardous pollutant during the period, claimed the government in its analysis, even as the green thinktank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has flagged limitations of such city-based approach. The analysis found that 20 of the 95 cities, including Chennai, Madurai, Nashik and Chittur, have even conformed to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) that put acceptable annual average limit of PM10 at 60 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3).
