The World Bank has approved a loan of about $300 million for Uttar Pradesh to support a major clean air initiative. The funding will back the state government’s Clean Air Plan, which aims to improve air quality through coordinated efforts across sectors while also generating employment, especially for youth and women.
Under the Uttar Pradesh Clean Air Management Programme (valued at $299.66 million), interventions will target key sectors such as transport, agriculture, and industry. The project is also expected to have wider benefits beyond the state. As part of the initiative, nearly 200 new air quality monitoring stations will be installed, with data managed by the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board.
The agreement was signed by officials from the Government of India, the Uttar Pradesh government, and the World Bank, including Juhi Mukherjee, B Chandrakala, and Paul Procee.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the initiative aligns with the state’s vision of becoming a $1 trillion economy, emphasizing that economic growth must go hand-in-hand with environmental sustainability.
The programme is expected to attract around $150 million in private investment, particularly in clean transport and MSME sectors. Planned measures include the adoption of electric buses and three-wheelers, improved emissions monitoring, and cleaner industrial technologies.
Additionally, the initiative will help nearly 3.9 million households access clean cooking solutions, support the modernization of over 700 brick kilns, and encourage farmers to use fertilizers more efficiently to boost productivity.
This programme is part of the World Bank’s broader Regional Air Quality Management Programme for the Indo-Gangetic Plains and Himalayan Foothills, one of the world’s most polluted regions. The loan has a 10-year tenure, including a two-year grace period, and is supported by the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program.