New Delhi, Apr 6: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today launched the National Air Quality Index (AQI) for monitoring the quality of air in major urban centres across the country on a real-time basis and enhancing public awareness for taking mitigative action.
As part of the endeavour, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) proposes to extend the measurement of air quality to 22 state capitals and 44 other cities with a population exceeding one million.
Launched during the two-day Environment and Forest Ministers' conference, the Air Quality Index assumes significance as Delhi, which has been termed one of the most-polluted cities in the world, and other cities in the country have raised deep concern over their deteriorating air quality.
The Air Quality Index has been at present launched for ten cities - Delhi, Agra, Kanpur, Lucknow, Varanasi, Faridabad, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad.
It will have 'one number, one colour and one description' to inform the public about air quality in a simple and easily understandable format.
The ministry said that each of these cities will have 6-7 continuous monitoring stations with AQI display boards.
_20240911155609_original_image_32.webp)
_20240428142749original_image_31.webp)
