The government tells the Rajya Sabha in response to a question raised by newly-elected MP from Karnataka, Mansoor Ali Khan
NEW DELHI — The government has disclosed that ₹16,423.56 crore has been released under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) between 2019-20 and 2025-26. However, only ₹11,579.06 crore were utilised, meaning nearly 30 per cent of the allocated funds remain unspent.
Further, the government said the country currently has 1,646 operational Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (AAQMS) spread across 603 cities in 28 states and seven Union Territories. The government’s response came in the Rajya Sabha to a question raised by newly-elected Rajya Sabha MP Mansoor Ali Khan.
According to the government, Maharashtra has the highest number of operational monitoring stations at 177, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 164 and West Bengal with 109. At the other end of the spectrum, Lakshadweep has only one monitoring station, while the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Tripura have four stations each.
Reacting to the government’s response, Mansoor Ali Khan, the MP from Karnataka, expressed concern over the slow pace of implementation, saying that merely monitoring pollution would not improve air quality unless it is backed by effective policy measures and timely execution.
“It is concerning that only around 70 per cent of the funds released under the National Clean Air Programme have been utilised. Monitoring pollution is only the first step; the real challenge lies in translating data into action. We need timely utilisation of funds, stronger implementation on the ground, and a scientific assessment of whether our monitoring infrastructure is fit for purpose. Clean air is not a privilege — it is a fundamental right, and every rupee allocated must result in measurable improvements in the air that Indians breathe,” he said.
Khan also pointed out that the government had not directly answered his question on whether it had undertaken any assessment of the adequacy of the country’s air quality monitoring network. Instead, the reply largely focused on fund allocations and expenditure, without clarifying whether the existing monitoring infrastructure provides adequate geographical coverage, addresses regional disparities, or accurately reflects the country’s air pollution burden.
Welcoming the expansion of the monitoring network, Khan stressed that India must move beyond simply increasing the number of monitoring stations. He said the focus should now be on ensuring that the network is scientifically designed, equitably distributed, and capable of generating reliable data to support evidence-based policies for improving air quality across the country.
