Haryana’s Clean Air Push with World Bank

Air pollution is one of the biggest problems in Haryana, especially in areas near Delhi. To fight this, the Haryana government has teamed up with the World Bank on a massive ₹3,600 crore project called the Haryana Clean Air Project for Sustainable Development.

Here’s what it means in simple terms:

• Cleaner factories: About 1,000 industries will get help to switch from dirty fuels to cleaner options like natural gas.
• Less smoke from generators: Diesel generators will be converted to hybrid systems that pollute less.
• Greener buses: The state will buy electric buses to cut down on traffic pollution.
• Farm solutions: Farmers will be encouraged to stop burning crop stubble, which causes huge smoke clouds every winter.
• Better monitoring: New systems will track air quality more closely so rules can be enforced.

Why it matters: This project could make the air healthier to breathe, reduce diseases, and even create new green jobs. It’s one of Haryana’s biggest-ever environmental efforts, and if it works, it could inspire other states to follow.

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Technical Policy Brief: Haryana–World Bank Clean Air Project

Project overview

• Name: Haryana Clean Air Project for Sustainable Development
• Funding: ₹3,600 crore (part of a $600 million World Bank programme for Haryana & Uttar Pradesh)
• Duration: 5 years
• Objective: Reduce air pollution across the NCR airshed through industrial, agricultural, and transport interventions.

Key interventions

• Industrial transition:
  • Incentivize 1,000 industries to replace coal/FO-based boilers with PNG/CNG/gaseous fuel systems.
  • Retrofit 1,000 diesel generator sets to hybrid/dual-fuel modes.
• Transport sector:
  • Procurement of electric buses.
  • Promotion of clean mobility infrastructure.
• Agriculture:
  • Enforcement against stubble burning.
  • Support for alternative residue management technologies.
• Monitoring & governance:
  • Strengthen air quality monitoring networks.
  • Enhance enforcement capacity at state and district levels.

Expected outcomes

• Health: Reduction in respiratory and cardiovascular disease burden.
• Economic: Increased productivity, improved investment climate.
• Environmental: Significant reduction in PM