Our Work

Tackling dispersed sources of air pollution in Patna, Muzaffarpur, and Gaya (2021-ongoing)

According to a study by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in 2018, approximately 45% of the PM2.5 load in Delhi is due to non-point or dispersed sources. Dispersed source pollution originates from diffused sources, rather than from a single, discrete one. Sources include malba on public land, garbage and biomass burning, dust from construction activity, and so on. While individual sources do not pollute the environment, collectively they contribute considerable amounts of pollutants to the atmosphere.

We work in Bihar through our association with the Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB). We began our work with a pilot in Patna in 2021; since then, full-fledged interventions have been launched in Patna, Muzaffarpur, and Gaya.

Sensitisation training sessions being conducted in Delhi

Our three-step process

Our project adheres to a simple workflow. We have institutionalised a three-step process among staff of Urban Local Bodies (ULB) and the municipal corporations of Patna, Muzaffarpur, and Gaya. This involves identifying dispersed source issues, allocating them to relevant officials, and ensuring effective resolution.

Throughout this process, A-PAG’s Project Management Units (PMUs) provide review and monitoring support to each city’s municipal corporations. Their aim is to aid zonal Deputy Commissioners in guaranteeing successful project implementation.

Sensitisation training sessions being conducted in Patna

In addition to monitoring assistance, A-PAG also provides support in training and sensitisation. Our sensitisation toolkit is a key resource in this effort.

We use the toolkit to train middle and junior-level officials on core air pollution concepts. Through our sessions, we have successfully trained over 300 officials across Patna, Muzaffarpur, and Gaya.

The program runs off the Clean Air Dashboard developed by A-PAG. As of December 2023, close to 32,000 issues have been identified, of which over 81% have been resolved.