Bhubaneswar, Odisha : The 10th meeting of the State-Level Air Quality Monitoring Committee (SLAQMC) was successfully held, focusing on the review and discussion of ongoing air pollution control measures under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and the Odisha State Clean Air Programme. The meeting emphasized strengthening clean air initiatives across the state.
Additional Chief Secretary, Shri Satyabrata Sahu, chaired the session and reviewed the progress of air pollution mitigation strategies in Odisha. Detailed discussions covered the key components of clean air measures and the allocation of available funds to ensure effective implementation.
Officials from several departments, including the Forest, Environment & Climate Change Department, Urban Development, Industry, Agriculture & Farmer Empowerment, Transport, State Transport Authority, and the Odisha Pollution Control Board, participated in the meeting.
Air Quality Trends in Odisha:
The PM10 concentration analysis indicates improvement in seven cities between 2019-20 and 2024-25, with a 29% reduction in Cuttack, followed by Angul (28%) and Balasore (26%). Conversely, some cities, including Kalinga Nagar, Rourkela, and Talcher, recorded a rise in PM10 levels, with increases of -13%, -2.7%, and -12% respectively.
For the year 2023-24, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, and Rourkela performed well in clean air surveys for Category-2 cities (population 3-10 lakh), ranking 7th, 9th, and 12th, respectively. In Category-3 cities (population under 3 lakh), Talcher, Angul, and Balasore ranked 4th, 6th, and 7th. Self-assessment scores for 2024-25 show Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, and Angul receiving top marks of 191, 196.5, and 197.5 from the Central Pollution Control Board, while Kalinga Nagar and Rourkela recorded the lowest scores, primarily due to road and e-mobility challenges and electricity supply issues.
Odisha State Clean Air Programme (OSCAP):
The new OSCAP, launched on 5 June 2025, targets a 40% reduction in PM10 and PM2.5 levels over the next five years, with a proposed budget allocation of ₹150 crore. Based on monitoring data from the past five years, 12 cities have been included in the programme, including Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Paradip, Brahmapur, Puri, Rajgangpur, Keonjhar, Joda, Badbil, Brajarajnagar, Belpahad, and Banai.
Key activities under the programme include:
- Developing city-level action plans for clean air
- Deploying street cleaning machinery and road infrastructure improvements
- Strengthening monitoring mechanisms
- Public awareness campaigns and capacity-building programs
- Management of solid waste and reducing industrial emissions
The financial documents for the programme have been submitted and are awaiting approval from the Finance Department.
The 10th SLAQMC meeting reinforces Odisha’s commitment to improving urban air quality through pollution control, sustainable development, and clean air initiatives, paving the way for healthier cities and a greener environment.
