· Concern over air pollution in Pasha Mailaram Industrial Estate

· PCB charged with inaction

· Air quality being monitored in industrial areas

HYDERABAD: Citizens Against Pollution (CAP) has decided to file a public interest litigation against the Government over the increasing air pollution levels in the Pasha Mailaram Industrial Estate. The air in the area is unfit to breath as it contained 15 toxic chemicals, including three carcinogens, says K. Purushotham Reddy, CAP president.

Speaking to presspersons here on Thursday, Prof. Reddy said a recent study carried out by the Chennai-based Community Environmental Monitoring (CEM) in Pasha Mailaram showed the air samples contained 15 Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and sulphur compounds such as methyl mercaptan, dimethyl sulphide, chloromethane, acetonitrile and methylene chloride. Besides, eight other chemicals, including three carcinogens were found dangerously above the safe screening levels of United States Environment Protect Agency (USEPA).

Harmful

"The presence of chemicals can potentially harm residents, workers and others spending time in and around the industrial estate", Prof. Reddy said.

He charged the Pollution Control Board with compromising with the health of people. It had all the powers and yet was not taking action against the polluting industries.

Study carried out

Swetha Narayan, coordinator, CEM, said the study was carried out as part of the National Air Toxics Programme. Air quality was being monitored in industrial areas, traffic junctions and open waste dumps in different parts of the country. So for 20 samples were collected from Gujarat, Chennai, Kerala, Delhi, Hyderabad and Baroda. A nation-wide report would be complied by year- end. "We want to push for a national standard on Volatile Organic Compounds and sulphur compounds," Ms. Narayan said

The samples in Pasha Mailaram, she said, was taken by the local residents with the help of a simple community device called `bucket'.