Jalandhar has been ranked 37th in the recently released National Clean Air Survey among cities with populations between 3 lakh and 10 lakh, making it the lowest-ranked city in its category and the city's air quality remains a concern, with PM-10 levels recorded at more than twice the prescribed standard.
One of the key issues highlighted is the utilisation of funds received under the Central Government's National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).
A total of ₹16.08 crore from the funds meant for measures to improve air quality was used for 148 basic development works across Jalandhar West, Central, North and Cantt constituencies.
The NCAP funds are intended for measures including automatic air quality monitoring centres, solid waste management, green belts, mechanised road cleaning and road upgradation and the programme also supports infrastructure such as air quality monitoring systems and facilities related to cleaner mobility, however, a major portion of the ₹16.08 crore expenditure in Jalandhar went towards roads, lanes, footpaths, interlocking tiles and other basic development works.
Jalandhar West recorded the highest expenditure, with 52 works costing ₹6.25 crore. Jalandhar Central had 58 works worth ₹5.54 crore, while 21 works worth ₹2.49 crore were carried out in Jalandhar North. Jalandhar Cantt accounted for 17 works costing ₹1.81 crore.
In total, 148 works were executed using ₹16.08 crore and among the major works were road construction on 120-Feet Road costing ₹53.19 lakh, repair and painting work on Nakodar Road costing ₹45.60 lakh and footpath construction near the DC residence costing ₹36.38 lakh.
The Municipal Corporation has received several instalments under the National Clean Air Programme since 2019 and between financial years 2019-20 and 2020-21, ₹4.12 crore was received.
Another ₹30 crore was received between 2021-22 and 2023-24. The city received ₹10.88 crore in 2024-25 and ₹17.50 crore in 2025-26.
This takes the total NCAP funds received during the period to around ₹62.50 crore.
The city's poor performance is also linked to gaps in pollution-control infrastructure.
Old and unfit vehicles continue to operate on city roads, while there is no established network of electric vehicle charging stations. Mechanical road sweeping is another concern and the city currently has only three mechanical sweeping machines, despite the requirement for separate machines across different zones.
Solid waste management also lacks digital monitoring infrastructure, while traffic congestion continues to contribute to pollution. Several planned infrastructure projects aimed at easing traffic, including bridges at the Tanda Road and Ladowali Road railway crossings and elevated road plans, remain pending.
According to the stated NCAP standards, PM-10 levels should remain within the prescribed limit, however, Jalandhar has recorded levels more than twice the standard, highlighting the gap between the objective of the clean-air programme and the city's current air quality situation.
The survey ranking has therefore brought focus back on whether the city's clean-air funds have translated into the pollution-control infrastructure needed to improve air quality.
