Ghaziabad: The Union Finance Ministry has approved a grant of Rs 17.2 crore to the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation (GMC) to combat air pollution. Ghaziabad is among the seven major municipalities of the state that have been allocated a total of Rs 258.1 crore. Cities are classified as 'non-attainment' if they consistently fail to meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for PM 10 or NO2 over a 5-year period. In 2020-21, GMC received Rs 121 crore in two installments. Ghaziabad is considered one of the most polluted cities in the country, especially in winters, when the air quality exceeds toxic levels. The Department of Expenditure of the Ministry of Finance has approved the proposal under the 15th Finance Commission's Ambient Air Quality Grant for over a million cities. “Initially, we were informed that Ghaziabad would get a grant of Rs 34 crore from the central government to tackle air pollution in the city, but later we received a communication sanctioning Rs 17.2 crore. The amount is likely to be disbursed in the next 10 days, after which we will prepare a plan and ensure that the grant is used to reduce air pollution,” GMC said. An official said. For UP, there is a maximum amount of Rs 106.9 crore. has been approved for Kanpur, followed by Agra (Rs 59 crore), Varanasi (Rs 36.6 crore) and Ghaziabad. Meanwhile, Ghaziabad's annual AQI average has improved over the past few years, according to data released by the UP Pollution Control Board. In 2017, the average annual AQI was 256, which decreased to 250 in 2018. In 2019, it further improved to 238, while in 2020, it was 204. But it increased slightly to 206 in 2021 and again to 206 the following year. Measures like road sweepers, water sprinkling, and deployment of anti-smog guns at pollution spots have put the city in good stead in areas prone to dust pollution. Besides, a quick response team has been formed to check waste burning, which has also helped control air pollution,” said a GMC official.
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