Patna air 'dangerous', pollution control board issues advisory to state govt

The Times of India , Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Correspondent : VithikaSalomi
Patna: In a bid to provide some relief to Patnaites choking in the very poor quality ambient air, the Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB) seems to have taken a cue from the recent Paris climate accord and issued a five-point advisory to the state's chief secretary. The advisory includes banning movement of trucks on the main arteries of the city.

The advisory was issued on Monday afternoon after taking into account the air quality index (AQI) of Patna in November. It was 'severe' on nine days and 'very poor' on 20 days. While 'severe' means particulate matter (PM) 2.5 level is over 400 and can 'affect healthy people and seriously impacts those with existing diseases', 'very poor' means it is between 301 and 400 and can cause 'respiratory illness on prolonged exposure'.

On Monday, the Patna's AQI measured at the continuous air quality monitoring station at Indira Gandhi Science planetarium was 378. It was second only to Lucknow at 392. In fact, on December 2, Patna was the most polluted city in India with an AQI of 403.

Environmental experts have pinned their hopes on the advisory as it comes on the eve of CM Nitish Kumar's review meeting of the state environment and forest department on Tuesday and hope the CM will take a note of the poisonous air the state capital residents are breathing and do something about it.

"Even this month, Patna's AQI has been recorded 'very poor' or 'severe' on most days. This was not the case in October when the ambient air quality remained in 'poor' category (201-300) which can cause 'Breathing discomfort to most people on prolonged exposure' or 'moderate' (101-200) which may cause 'Breathing discomfort to the people with lungs, asthma and heart diseases'," a BSPCB source told TOI, adding, "In fact, on several days, Patna's air has been the most polluted across the country."

The other measures recommended by the BSPCB to curb increasing air pollution levels in the city include stopping exposed burning of garbage/waste, especially by the municipal bodies, ensuring that building materials such as sand, mud or cement are covered during transportation, that contractors cover buildings under construction and making sure that diesel vehicles over 15-year-old are not allowed to run in the city. Patna's vehicular load is estimated to be over 11 lakh at present.

Environmentalists say that air pollution becomes worse in winter as smoke and other atmospheric pollutants condense over Bihar as they are not carried away by the wind and combine with fog to become 'smog' and cause adverse health conditions.

 
SOURCE : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Patna-air-dangerous-pollution-control-board-issues-advisory-to-state-govt/articleshow/50188461.cms
 


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