IN NEWS: Angul ranks 3rd in Swachh Vayu Survekshan 2025 (Clean Air City Awards)
Introduction
Angul city in Odisha has secured the 3rd rank in the ‘National Clean Air City’ category (population < 3 lakh) under Swachh Vayu Survekshan 2025, conducted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). The recognition reflects sustained efforts in improving air quality under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).
ANALYSIS
Performance of Angul: Key Highlights
Angul’s ranking signifies a notable improvement in urban air quality management, driven by targeted administrative interventions. The district authorities attributed the achievement to:
- Restriction on polluting truck movement within city limits over the past two years
- Strengthening road infrastructure
- Conducting public awareness and outreach activities
This demonstrates a policy mix of regulation + infrastructure + community engagement.
Recognition under Swachh Vayu Survekshan 2025
The awards were presented by the Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav during the Swachh Vayu Survekshan Awards & Wetland Cities Recognition Ceremony in New Delhi.
- Angul received a cash prize of ₹12.50 lakh
- It is the second recognition for Angul (earlier in 2023)
- It emerged as the only city from Odisha in the top three
This indicates consistency in air quality governance.
Comparative Performance of Odisha Cities
The overall performance of Odisha cities was mixed:
- Bhubaneswar improved rank (7 → 5) in 3–10 lakh category
- Talcher maintained 4th rank (below 3 lakh category)
- Cuttack, Rourkela, Balasore showed decline
This reflects:
- Uneven implementation of clean air strategies
- Need for sustained monitoring and enforcement
Role of National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)
Angul is among the 130 non-attainment cities covered under NCAP. The programme focuses on:
- Reducing PM10 and PM2.5 levels
- Promoting city-specific action plans
- Enhancing institutional capacity and monitoring
Angul’s success highlights the effectiveness of localized interventions under a national framework.
Significance of the Achievement
1. Urban Environmental Governance
- Demonstrates success of decentralised pollution control measures
- Highlights importance of district-level execution
2. Sustainable Urban Development
- Links infrastructure planning with environmental outcomes
- Encourages eco-friendly urban mobility policies
3. Policy Replicability
- Angul model can be replicated in other NCAP cities
- Emphasises traffic regulation as a key pollution control tool
4. Competitive Federalism
- Rankings promote inter-city competition
- Encourage states to adopt best practices
STATIC PART
Swachh Vayu Survekshan
- Conducted by: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)
- Objective:
- Rank cities based on air quality improvement
- Promote clean air initiatives
- Encourage public participation and awareness
National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)
- Launched: 2019
- Target: Reduce particulate pollution by 20–30% (later revised higher targets)
- Coverage: 130+ non-attainment cities
- Approach: City-specific action plans + monitoring + funding support
Updated – 10 September 2025 | 09:15 AM | News Source: The New Indian Express