Bhubaneswar: In a renewed push to improve air quality and secure a better ranking under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) will launch a week-long ‘Clean Air Blue Sky’ campaign from Sept 7 to 14. The initiative aims to encourage behavioural changes among residents in waste management and pollution control practices.BMC deputy commissioner N Ganesh Babu said the civic body has planned a series of public outreach activities, including walkathons and door-to-door awareness drives, to educate citizens on their role in reducing air pollution. “The campaign is intended to create awareness about everyday practices that contribute to pollution. People will be advised not to burn waste, make sure that lightweight garbage is covered so that it doesn’t get blown away by wind and maintain their vehicles properly to keep emission under control,” Babu added.This year, the NCAP rating will come out in the third week of Sept. Last year, Bhubaneswar was ranked four among 130 cities in India under NCAP survey. This year, Bhubaneswar aims to remain among the top three cities, Babu added.According to officials, the campaign is part of the city’s broader strategy to meet NCAP objectives and bring down pollution levels, particularly during the winter when air quality deteriorates significantly.The civic body has already initiated several measures to curb pollution. Earlier, BMC decided to reintroduce restrictions on the use of charcoal for cooking, a move aimed at reducing emissions from traditional fuel sources. Officials are also intensifying efforts to prevent the open burning of dry municipal waste, which remains a major contributor to local air pollution.In addition, BMC has been focusing on dust suppression measures across the city. Vacant spaces are being covered with paver blocks to reduce dust generation while also improving the aesthetics of public areas. Civic officials said dust from open plots and roadside spaces is a significant factor affecting air quality in urban areas.A senior environmental scientist of the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) said, “During winter, the Air Quality Index in Bhubaneswar often crosses 300. Both the SPCB and BMC undertake targeted interventions to reduce pollution levels. Compliance with NCAP norms has been a continuous mission since the programme was introduced,” the scientist said.
