The Centre has released 2,200 crore rupees as the first instalment to 15 states for the improvement of air quality measures in their million-plus cities.

The amount has been released based on the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission.

In a tweet, Office of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that this will help the beneficiary states to undertake air quality measures, including capacity-building of the local bodies within their million-plus cities.

The states which have been given the amount include Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

Of the total amount, 396.5 crore rupees has been released to Maharashtra, 202.5 crore rupees to Gujarat, 357 crore rupees to Uttar Pradesh and 209.5 crore rupees to West Bengal.