Haryana Clean Air Project for Sustainable Development Clears
The Haryana government has approved the draft DPR of the Haryana Clean Air Project for Sustainable Development, which is aimed at eliminating air pollution and enabling sustainable development in the state. This project shall be funded by the World Bank, which shall be implemented in a period of six years from 2024 to 2030. The initial phase of this ambitious project shall have a budgetary provision of Rs 3,600 crore, wherein the main focus areas shall look to enhance the air quality of cities like Gurugram and Faridabad.
Stage approach to cut emissions
HCAPSD will adopt a step-by-step approach to mitigate air pollution and reduce emissions across various industries. In the initial stage, it will focus on agriculture-related pollution, household emissions, and the institutional sector. Gurugram and Faridabad will be the prominent urban cities of Haryana, and these regions are to be targeted in order to address the problems of urban air quality and enhance the sustainability of local industries and agriculture.
The project would target bringing a mix of the intervention in relation to pollution from various sources-including vehicular emissions, industrial pollution, C&D, and stubble burning, which is a primary source of agricultural emissions. It would present specific action plans that would reduce harmful emissions across these sectors which could enhance the air quality.
Major Interventions: Improvement in Air Quality
The HCAPSD will have tackling of construction and demolition waste as a significant part. This is major particulate matter in the air because of its huge quantity. There will be streamlined collection with improvements in the systems of handling and processing and increasing management by way of training and establishment of SOPs. The project would, therefore, undertake mechanized road sweeping, paving of unpaved roads, and increasing green cover to reduce dust generated from construction activities and also from the road surfaces. The government would introduce electric buses and incentives for the electric three-wheelers for electrification of public transport. The old polluting vehicles would also be phased out in the context of the project by enforcing standards on emissions at the automated testing stations (ATS).
In the industrial sector, PNG and CNG shall be used in substitution for polluting traditional fuels. Incentives by way of subsidies shall be provided to the industries to enhance their boilers and adopt clean technologies. Pilot projects, for instance, shall be initiated to popularize the use of tunnel kilns for brick production and common boiler systems for textile clusters. In addition, small and medium enterprises will be assisted to install CEMS for monitoring pollution levels and subsequently ensuring compliance with environmental standards.
The government will engage with the household sector through awareness-raising campaigns and promoting clean cooking practices. The government will encourage a household to use cleaner cooking technology to reduce emissions emanating from households, especially rural areas.
Agriculture Sector Focus: Management of Stubble
Agriculture in Haryana is one of the major contributors to air pollution through stubble burning that is mainly adopted as a method for clearing fields after harvest. Steps to minimize stubble burning and enhance sustainable agricultural practices have been incorporated into the HCAPSD project. The government has targeted the achievement of zero stubble burning next year.
This is to be achieved by introducing sustainable stubble management practices that comprise in-situ and ex-situ crop residue management methods.
These steps will reduce the emission of particulate matter and other pollutants into the atmosphere during the stubble-burning season, which otherwise usually causes poor air quality in Haryana and other neighboring regions.
Capacity Building and Strengthening Institutions
Besides environmental measures, it would focus on institutional strengthening so that the interventions taken by the project turn out to be successful. There would be close coordination among agriculture, transport, industry, and urban development departments. It has formed a governing committee that is headed by Chief Secretary Vivek Joshi in order to oversee the implementation of the project so that different initiatives are carried out effectively and on schedule. The state would train local stakeholders, government officials, and industry leaders on the best practices of pollution control and environmental sustainability. The project is supposed to create public awareness concerning air quality and promotes participation in the efforts toward reduction in pollution by local communities.
Long-term goals and sustainability
This would be a long-term program and a benchmark for all the states of the country. Its phased approach, besides having comprehensive strategies for curtailing pollution in several sectors, will make it an ambitious model toward sustainable development. An emphasis on both technological and behavioral interventions would ensure cleaning up of the environment for the citizen of Haryana even as sustainable economic growth was being pursued. This will also aid in meeting the commitments at the national and international level for air quality and climate action, such as India’s National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Conclusion The Haryana Clean Air Project for Sustainable Development is an unavoidable step in the direction wherein the state would take up the developing issue of air pollution and improve living standards among its residents. The purpose of the project, therefore, is to provide an example to India on the clean air initiative by covering emissions from all sectors including agriculture, transport, industries, and construction. With support from the World Bank and with commitment from state authorities, this project will show significant improvements in air quality to further contribute to larger goals of the conception for sustainable development and climate action.