Life expectancy of Delhiites will be up by nearly three years if the target of the National Clean Air Programme to improve air quality by 20 to 30 per cent in the next five years is fulfilled, according to a new study.

Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan on January 10 launched the much-awaited National Clean Air Programme to improve air quality by 20 to 30 per cent in the next five years with 2017 as the base year.

The NCAP has proposed multiple strategies to combat air pollution in the 102 most-polluting cities in the country. The 102 cities singled out by the NCAP have higher pollution levels than the national average, so they stand to gain more if they follow through with their pollution reduction action plans, according to a study by Air Quality Life Index report on the ‘Potential Benefits of India’s War Against Pollution’.

“If all of the 102 cities reduced particulate pollution by 25 per cent, their aggregate annual average PM 2.5 exposure would be 14 g/m lower than 2016 levels. This would translate to an average gain in life expectancy of 1.4 years,” the report said.