A recent study shows that if the air in New Delhi gets cleaner in the next 5 years by 20-30 percent, the life expectancy of the residents in New Delhi will increase by 3 years.

Harsh Vardhan the Union Environment Minister has launched the “National Clean Air Programme”, this will help improve the air-quality in populated cities by 20-30percent in just 5 years.

The NCAP will combat air pollution in 102 polluted cities in India, they have added a couple of strategies to make India’s air cleaner.

The NCAP chose to combat air pollution in 102 cities because they had higher pollution levels compared to other cities,  also so that they catch up with other cities with their pollution reduction plans, this was based on a study conducted by the Air Quality Life Index on the ”Potential Benefits of India’s War Against Pollution”.

The programme is going to be launched in 102 polluted cities and will have a goal to reduce 25 percent of its current pollution rate. Eventually, this will add 2-3 years in the life expectancy of the residents in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi.

Michael Greenstone professor it the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC): “The payoffs from the successful implementation of NCAP could be substantial, with people in the most polluted areas – like Delhi – living almost three years longer.”

Michael Greenstone added: “For this reason, NCAP has the potential to become a historic and watershed moment in Indian environmental policy,”