Chennai : The pollution level on the Bhogi Day has come down drastically since 2001 when the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) began awareness campaigns against burning tyres and plastics, Environment Minister T. P. M. Mohideenkhan said.

Inaugurating an awareness campaign by the Green Squad of the TNPCB to campaign against burning of tyres and plastics in all the 10 Corporation zones of Chennai, the Minister said the campaign was being co-ordinated by the State Government, through the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, Directorate of Environment, Corporation of Chennai, Police, Fire and Rescue Departments, NGOs, Social Service Clubs, residents' associations and volunteers.

R. Rajagopal, Chairman in-charge of the TNPCB, said that thanks to the campaign launched from 2001, the sulphur dioxide level on Bhogi Day had come down by 50 per cent, the total suspended particulate matter level by 41 per cent, and respirable dust particulate matter level by 37 per cent. The findings were recorded in nine locations following Bhogi at Anna Nagar, Kilpauk, T. Nagar, Vallalar Nagar, Vyasarpadi, Royapuram, Besant Nagar, Triplicane and Mandaveli.

Burning of plastics

Armed with a High Court directive against burning of plastics and tyres and the Environment Protection Act, 1986, Section 15, which specifies penal action for persons who cause air pollution, the TNPCB, along with the police, will conduct a check on burning of plastics.

The campaign will be on till January 13. The Enviro Club of Loyola College members will conduct awareness campaigns in all divisions of the Chennai Corporation, using 1,500 environmental study students to distribute pamphlets.

S. Vincent, Faculty Advisor, said the dangerous gases that could emanate from burning tyres were sulphur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen and cancer diseases.

Besides rubber, burning of poly acrylonitrile plastics and PVC gives out hydrogen cyanide gas and vinyl chloride respectively, which are suspected to be carcinogenic, he said.