Major cities in Maharashtra such as Mumbai, Pune, Nashik and Nagpur have registered high air pollution levels in 2015, as per the economic survey released this week.

The levels of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and respirable suspended particulate matter were higher in the cities than those prescribed in the standard norms. In addition, the noise pollution in Mumbai, Nashik, Nagpur’s residential areas was found to be higher than the normal.

The sulphur dioxide level reached up to 41 mg/m^3 in Mumbai, a little lower than the standard limit 50 mg/m^3. However, Sion area had the highest level of 86 mg/m^3 during the year 2015. Pune had sulphur dioxide at 55 mg/m^3 and Nagpur 42 mg/m^3. On nitrogen oxides, Sion had the highest level of 208 mg/m^3 against the limit of 40 mg/m^3 followed by Swarget area in Pune with 105 mg/m^3 Nagpur 62 mg/m^3.

The respirable suspended particulate matter was again the highest in Sion with 390 mg/m^3 followed by Swarget with 268 mg/m^3, Aurangabad with 161 mg/m^3 and Nagpur with 144 mg/m^3 against a prescribed limit of 60 mg/m^3.

As per the survey, air pollution occurs when the air contains gases, dust, and odour in harmful amounts. Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 has been enacted for the prevention, control and abatement of air pollution. The present air-monitoring network in the state consists of eight Continuous, 71 National and four State Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations.

The survey has also suggested measures to reduce the pollution levels. “Use of less sulphur content diesel, lead free petrol, CNG/ LPG as an alternative fuel, making PUC mandatory, banning 15-year-old vehicles and converting eight-year-old vehicles to CNG/LPG are some of the important measures being taken to restrict air pollution. As on 31st March, 2015, out of 77.26 lakh CNG/LPG convertible vehicles in the State, number of vehicles fitted with LPG kit was 1.25 lakh and number of vehicles fitted with CNG kit was 4.03 lakh as against 1.19 lakh and 3.47 lakh in the previous year,” it said.

The report also recorded the highest noise pollution levels from Antop Hill and Shivaji Park areas on working as well as non-working days. On January 10, 2016, Antop Hill recorded 72.6 decibel during daytime and 0 59.6 decibel during night against 55 decibel and 45 decibel during the day and night respectively. Other cities including Nashik, Nagpur, Kolhapur and Aurangand also recorded more than 50 decibel of sound on the same day.