Haryana Chief Secretary TVSN Prasad on Monday said that the State Government is preparing Rs 10,000 crore Haryana Clean Air Project for Sustainable Development which will be implemented in the State in a phased manner. In the first phase, the project will be implemented in NCR districts of the State and later, it will be replicated in the entire State.

Prasad said this in the Governing Committee meeting of Haryana Clean Air Project for Sustainable Development held under his Chairmanship. He said the World Bank would fund this ten-year comprehensive project. However, assistance from NABARD and HUDCO would also be taken to implement the project effectively.

While underlining the significance of Haryana Clean Air Project for Sustainable Development, Prasad emphasised the need for collective efforts by all stakeholders to eliminate the problem of air pollution. He maintained that the State has significantly strengthened its institutions for air quality measurement and monitoring. Four state sample-testing laboratories have been established in the State. Apart from this, 29 Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQM) stations and 39 Manual Ambient Air Quality Monitoring (MAAQM) stations are operational in different districts. The State will build on its current infrastructure by expanding the AQ monitoring network, setting-up a command control centre, and increasing resource capacity and citizen engagement, he added.

It was informed in the meeting that the project has three focus areas aimed at addressing air pollution comprehensively. The initial phase involves substantial enhancements to Haryana's air quality monitoring infrastructure. This encompasses the establishment of a cutting-edge laboratory and the modernization of four existing ones. Additionally, a dedicated program management unit will be established to oversee project implementation.