<span style="color: #222222;">Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar today chaired a webinar on the first-ever International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies.<br />'' <br />''Speaking on the occasion, Mr Javadekar said, the government is committed to reduce the Air pollution level in 122 most polluted cities.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He said, with rise in population, industries, vehicles, garbage and dust, pollution has increased.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Mr Javadekar said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address from the Red Fort on this year's Independence Day had highlighted the need of holistic improvement in air quality in 100 cities.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He thanked Mr Modi for bringing the issue in his Independence Day Speech and putting across the goal of Holistic improvement in Air Quality in 100 cities. Mr Javadekar said, Prime Minister himself is determined to bring this change.<br />''</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The Minister said, Government has taken several initiatives during last few years to reduce pollution in the country.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Launch of National Clean Air Programme, NACP and National Air Quality Index, NAQI ,use of BS VI fuel, enhancing emmission standards for industries, contruction of roads for decongestion of traffic, special emphasis to e-vehicles are some of the initiatives.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">   <br />'' Stressing that States must now work with city specific plans, as every city has different source of pollution the Environment Minister said that the use of electric vehicle must be encouraged. </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He said, Brick kilns in various states should adopt zig zag technology to reduce pollution emerging out of them. Mr Javadekar said that people participation is must to clean the air. Car-pooling and use of public transport must be promoted.<br />''      </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Mr Javadekar along with Minister of State Babul Supriyo and Secretary R P Gupta launched a brochure on Integrated Measures to Combat Air Pollution under the National Clean Air Programme.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />'' In January last year, the Environment Ministry had launched National Clean Air Programme NCAP to tackle the problem of air pollution in a comprehensive manner with a target to achieve 20 to 30 percent reduction in PM 10 and PM 2.5 concentrations by 2024 keeping 2017 as base year.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The plan identified earlier 102 non-attainment cities, across 23 States and Union Territories. 20 more non-attainment cities have been included under NCAP based on latest data trend on air quality.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />'' The webinar was joined by Principal Secretaries of the Urban Development Departments and Environment Departments of 28 states and 8 Union Territories. Commissioners of 122 cities as identified in NCAP programme also participated in the webinar.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />'' The General Assembly of United Nations on 19th December last year had adopted a resolution to observe the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies on 7th September every year starting from this year.</span><br />''