India, Oct. 25 -- Worried about rising air pollution in various cities in Maharashtra, the state environment department plans to launch the Maharashtra Clean Air Programme (M-CAP). This would be a localised plan and would include financial assistance to civic bodies, enabling them to execute anti-air pollution measures. The sum it proposes to raise is Rs.200-300 crore through funds from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB).

"Environment minister Pankaja Munde instructed civic bodies in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) to rein in air pollution on Friday. But it's not just MMR; rapid urbanisation has made it a state-wide challenge," said an official with the environment department. "That's why the minister has suggested MCAP ...