Haryana Approves Clean Air Project Draft for Sustainable Development

Haryana’s Governing Committee, chaired by Chief Secretary Dr. Vivek Joshi, approved the draft of the “Haryana Clean Air Project for Sustainable Development” (HCAPSD) during a recent meeting. The World Bank-funded initiative is set to be implemented over six years (2024-2025 to 2029-2030) with an initial allocation of ₹3,600 crore. This ambitious project aims to combat air pollution while promoting sustainable development across the state, focusing initially on Gurgaon and Faridabad.

During the meeting, Dr. Joshi emphasized the significance of inter-departmental coordination and timely execution to ensure the project’s success. The additional Chief Secretary for the Environment, Forests, and Wildlife Department, Mr. Anand Mohan Saran, explained that the draft was developed after extensive discussions with stakeholders, senior officials, and field visits to identify challenges and formulate effective strategies.

The first phase of the initiative will involve targeted interventions in sectors such as agriculture, domestic emissions, and construction. Key measures include efficient waste management systems for construction and demolition debris, road dust reduction through mechanized sweeping, and enhanced urban green cover.

In the transportation sector, the project will promote the electrification of public buses and three-wheelers while expanding charging infrastructure. Steps will also be taken to phase out older, pollution-intensive vehicles through Automated Testing Stations (ATS). The industry sector will be supported with financial incentives to transition to cleaner fuels like PNG and CNG and adopt sustainable technologies such as tunnel kilns for brick manufacturing.

Domestic emissions will be addressed through awareness campaigns advocating clean cooking practices. Urban emissions in Gurgaon and Faridabad will be tackled by collaborating with road ownership and construction agencies to implement effective street cleaning and urban greening programs.

The additional Chief Secretary of Agriculture, Dr. Raja Sekhar Vundru, highlighted the state’s target to achieve zero stubble burning by next year. Sustainable stubble management practices, including in-situ and ex-situ methods, will be promoted alongside livestock waste management. A secondary emission monitoring center will also be established to monitor agricultural emissions in collaboration with rural development departments.

Attendees of the meeting included senior officials such as Mr. A.K. Singh (Additional Chief Secretary, Energy Department), A. Srinivas (CEO, Faridabad Metropolitan Development Authority), and other key stakeholders.

The Haryana Clean Air Project exemplifies the state’s commitment to balancing development with environmental conservation, setting a benchmark for clean air initiatives nationwide.

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