Aurangabad, Nov 3:
Six cities in Maharashtra including Aurangabad will receive Rs 396 crore for improving air quality in 2020-21 from the central government. The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) Aurangabad will receive a grant of Rs 16 crore for carrying out various preventive measures.
The central government, based on the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission, has released Rs 2,200 crore as the first instalment to 15 states for the improvement of air quality measures in their million-plus cities. The grant will help the beneficiary states to undertake air quality measures, including capacity-building of the local bodies within their cities. Giving more information, MPCB sub regional officer Pradip Wankhede said, "We are in the process of studying several aspects that can prevent the existing air quality from worsening and will be conducting a community perception survey, taking inputs from citizens as well as various government bodies. Aurangabad, compared with several other cities, is cautious about its air pollution levels and its green coverage. Taking it ahead, MPCB will work in tandem with the civic body to plan to see how the city can evolve to accommodate the much-needed changes to help the cause of clean air. The existing air pollution network is inadequate, and it is necessary to install at least five continuous air monitoring stations within the city." Better policies will be developed, and a collaborative, informed, efficient and transparent plan of action will be made to improve the air quality in Aurangabad, added the official.