Tiruchi Leads Tamil Nadu in Air Quality, Drops to 12th Nationally
In the Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2026, an annual national assessment of air quality improvement efforts, Tiruchi has secured the first position among Tamil Nadu cities. However, the city slipped to the 12th spot nationally among cities with a population exceeding 10 lakh, compared to its ninth-place ranking in the previous year.
The Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan is conducted under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), an initiative of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. It evaluates cities across the country on their sustained efforts to improve air quality. This year’s exercise covered 130 cities, including 48 with a population of more than 10 lakh.
Tiruchi recorded an overall score of 183 out of 200, placing it 12th nationally. In the 2025 edition, the city had scored 186 and secured the ninth rank. The assessment relied on self-assessment reports submitted by cities to the Central Pollution Control Board, covering parameters such as biomass and municipal solid waste burning, road dust, dust from construction and demolition, vehicular emissions, industrial emissions, public awareness initiatives, and improvement in PM10 concentrations.
The city’s PM10 concentration has declined from 88 in 2017-18 to 53 in 2025-26, reflecting steady progress in reducing particulate pollution. Officials attribute this to several measures, including improved road sweeping, water sprinkling, and increased green cover through tree plantation along roads and medians.
In addition to the city’s overall performance, Ward 22 (Thillai Nagar) of the Tiruchi City Corporation received the state-level Best Ward award in the category for cities with a population between 10,000 and 30,000.
A senior Corporation official acknowledged the achievements but noted that further improvement would require greater focus on preventing open dumping and burning of waste, regular road sweeping, and continued use of water sprinklers to control road dust. The official stressed that these measures are critical to sustaining progress and improving the city’s national ranking.
Tiruchi’s performance underscores the broader efforts under the NCAP, which aims to reduce air pollution in Indian cities through targeted actions and periodic monitoring. While the city has slipped in national rankings, its top position within Tamil Nadu highlights the local commitment to cleaner air, even as challenges remain.
