Madhya Pradesh has recorded mixed progress in tackling air pollution over the past three years, with parliamentary data showing remarkable improvements in some cities while industrial centres continue to struggle with hazardous air quality. Among the state's biggest success stories is Satna, which reduced the number of severe air pollution days from 30 in 2023 to zero in both 2024 and 2025. In contrast, industrial town Pithampur remained the state's most polluted city, registering 33 severe air quality days in 2025.

The latest figures were presented in the Lok Sabha by Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav while responding to questions on air pollution control and the implementation of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).

Satna Records Major Turnaround

According to the data, Satna has emerged as one of Madhya Pradesh's strongest examples of air quality improvement. After recording 30 days under the 'Severe' Air Quality Index (AQI) category in 2023, the city witnessed no severe pollution days in either 2024 or 2025.

The sustained improvement over two consecutive years highlights the impact of pollution-control measures and local interventions, making Satna one of the state's best-performing cities in terms of severe pollution reduction.

Pithampur Remains Most Polluted

While several cities showed improvement, the industrial hub of Pithampur continued to face serious air quality concerns.

The city recorded 19 severe pollution days in 2023, which increased to 31 in 2024 and further rose to 33 days in 2025. This means residents experienced hazardous air quality on roughly every eleventh day during the year, making Pithampur the worst-performing city among the available Madhya Pradesh data.

The figures underline the continuing environmental challenges associated with industrial emissions despite ongoing monitoring mechanisms.

Bhopal Shows Improvement

State capital Bhopal also registered noticeable progress. The city reported 36 severe AQI days in 2023 and 40 in 2024. In 2025, however, the number dropped significantly to eight.

Although the reduction indicates considerable improvement, the data also suggests that Bhopal has not yet eliminated episodes of hazardous air pollution and still requires sustained mitigation efforts.

NCAP Shows Positive Impact

The Union government attributed the improvement in air quality across several cities to the implementation of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).

According to the ministry, ₹16,423.56 crore has been released as performance-linked financial assistance for 130 non-attainment cities across 24 states and Union Territories to strengthen pollution-control measures.

The government informed Parliament that PM10 concentrations declined in 108 cities during 2025-26 compared to the 2017-18 baseline. Among these, 72 cities recorded reductions exceeding 20 per cent, while 26 cities achieved improvements of more than 40 per cent.

Additionally, 14 cities met the National Ambient Air Quality Standards during 2025-26, compared to only six cities in the 2017-18 assessment period.

Industrial Monitoring Strengthened

The Centre said pollution control authorities continue to monitor industries under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, and the Water Act, 1974.

To strengthen compliance, Continuous Online Emission Monitoring Systems (OCEMS) have been made mandatory for 17 categories of highly polluting industries. These systems transmit real-time emissions data directly to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and respective State Pollution Control Boards, enabling faster detection of violations.

Authorities said action is initiated under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, whenever industries fail to comply with prescribed standards.

Afforestation and Climate Measures

The government also highlighted parallel initiatives aimed at improving urban environmental conditions. A programme is underway to develop 600 urban forests and 400 urban gardens between 2020-21 and 2026-27 to increase green cover and improve biodiversity.

Further, under the National Mission for a Green India, ₹1,076.34 crore has been allocated across 18 states and Union Territories for afforestation and ecological restoration covering nearly 1.84 lakh hectares.

Over the past five years, ₹6,769.25 crore has also been sanctioned through the Compensatory Afforestation Fund for plantation and forest regeneration activities.

The Centre added that broader climate adaptation efforts continue under the National Action Plan on Climate Change, alongside programmes such as Jal Jeevan Mission, Atal Bhujal Yojana, Jal Shakti Abhiyan, the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture and the Green India Mission.

The latest parliamentary data suggests that while several Madhya Pradesh cities have made measurable progress in reducing severe air pollution episodes, industrial clusters continue to require focused intervention to achieve sustained improvements in air quality.