Swachh Vayu Diwas Celebrated in Jaipur: Focus on Clean Air and Sustainable Growth

Jaipur: The International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, also known as Swachh Vayu Diwas, was celebrated in Jaipur with a call for urgent action to improve air quality across India. The event, held under the aegis of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, was attended by Union Minister Bhupender Yadav and Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma.

The ceremony, hosted by the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board, highlighted India’s efforts in reducing air pollution through the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). Yadav showcased the progress of 131 NCAP cities, noting that 95 cities have seen significant improvements, with 51 cities achieving a reduction in PM10 levels by over 20% since the base year of 2017-18. An impressive 21 cities reported reductions exceeding 40%.

In his address, Union Minister Yadav underscored the importance of multi-stakeholder partnerships and called for increased investments in clean air initiatives. He reminded the audience of the collective responsibility to protect the environment, stating, “Nature gives us its best; in return, we should give nature our best.”

During the event, a documentary on the NCAP was screened, and a comprehensive document titled ‘Compendium on Viable Technologies and Practices: Lessons from NCAP Cities’ was released, showcasing successful air quality improvement efforts across various cities.

The Swachh Vayu Survekshan awards were presented to the best-performing NCAP cities across three categories:

• Category 1 (population over 10 lakhs): Surat, Jabalpur, and Agra
• Category 2 (population between 3-10 lakhs): Firozabad, Amravati, and Jhansi
• Category 3 (population under 3 lakhs): Raebareli, Nalgonda, and Nalagarh

Municipal commissioners from the winning cities were honored with cash prizes, trophies, and certificates.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma emphasized the state’s commitment to environmental conservation, referencing the Prime Minister’s initiatives such as the Swachh Bharat Mission and the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam tree-planting campaign. He announced plans for a “Green Growth Budget” and the introduction of electric buses on key intercity and intracity routes, while praising the plantation of over seven crore saplings in Rajasthan.

The event also featured the planting of 100 saplings as part of the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign at the Matri Van, Jaipur Exhibition and Convention Centre, symbolizing the commitment to environmental sustainability.

The celebration concluded with a call to young scientists and researchers to contribute innovative ideas under the Ideas4LiFE campaign, focusing on sustainable practices in areas such as water and energy conservation, waste reduction, and adopting healthy lifestyles.

Attendees included officials from central and state governments, municipal commissioners, members of pollution control boards, students, and experts. The event not only celebrated progress but also reinforced the need for continued investment and collaboration to ensure a cleaner, healthier future for all.