Get more air monitoring stations in Gurgaon, says Central pollution watchdog

The Hindustan Times , Thursday, April 20, 2017
Correspondent : Ipsitapati
With the city recording poor air quality for the last five months, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has asked the state pollution control board to install more air quality monitoring stations in Gurgaon to identify the factors responsible for air pollution.

On Monday, the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) had submitted a report to the CPCB on air quality and the role of industries and vehicular impact, following which its officials were asked to work on a proposal for more AQI (air quality index) stations in the city. The pollution watchdog had sent a similar proposal to the state last year too, but nothing has been done so far.

“The city has only one (AQI) station, located at Rajiv Chowk. As a result, we are unable to determine the factors responsible for bad air quality. We require at least two stations in the city to get an average air quality data. As the Rajiv Chowk monitoring station is located close to the highway, we do not get a clear picture,” said Bhupender Singh, regional officer, HSPCB.

Singh added that wind movement is also having a negative impact on the city’s air quality this year. “The (polluted) wind is blowing from Delhi towards Haryana (and settling here), thus the pollution levels in the city are higher,” he said.

The daily air quality index of the CPCB hasn’t showed any improvement in the city’s air quality since November, even though neighbouring Delhi’s air pollution level has improved. On Wednesday, the CPCB’s air quality index marked Gurgaon as ‘very poor,’ while Faridabad and Delhi were marked ‘moderate’ and ‘poor’ respectively.

The air quality index is an indicator of air pollution due to excess levels of three pollutants — nitrogen dioxide (NO2), particulate matter (PM)10 and PM2.5. The index marks air quality as ‘good’ on a scale of 0-100, moderate on a scale of 101- 200 and poor from 201 to 300.

The index for an individual pollutant at a monitoring location is calculated as per its 24-hour average concentration value (eight-hour cycle in case of carbon monoxide and ozone) and health breakpoint concentration range.

However, all pollutants cannot be monitored at all locations and the overall AQI is calculated only if data of a minimum of three pollutants is available.

Two fined for illegal dumping of construction debris in city

In an effort to end improper dumping of construction debris, the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) on Wednesday issued challans to two tractor drivers found illegally dumping construction and demolition (C&D) waste in DLF Phase 3.

In July last year, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had asked the MCG to stop dumping of C&D waste as the city’s air pollution had already worsened due to dust from increased construction activities in the city.

MCG officials said on Wednesday that the violators were fined Rs5,000 each and let off after a warning.

“MCG officials noticed the dumping of C&D waste at a secluded spot in DLF Phase 3 and accordingly initiated action against the defaulters. If they are found repeating the act regularly, a 20% hike in fine will be levied,” SS Rohilla, spokesperson of MCG said.

The civic body has 16 designated sites for dumping C&D waste.

It has three such sites at Basai and one each in Khandsa village, Kadipur, PalamVihar, PawalaKhusrupur, Udyog Vihar Phase I, Sarhaul village, Sikanderpur, Wazirabad, Ghata, Jhasra, BegampurKhatola, Naharpur and Badshahpur.

A site for building the city’s first C&D waste plant has been chosen at Basai and received clearance from the state government. The MCG has also signed a MoU with IL&FS that will be operating the plant.

The city currently generates over 300 to 400 tonnes of C&D waste daily. According to environmentalists, this increases by 15% annually due to the increase in urbanisation and infrastructure projects.

 
SOURCE : http://www.hindustantimes.com/gurgaon/get-more-air-monitoring-stations-in-gurgaon-says-central-pollution-watchdog/story-ybGEdJSl7o0Q07PDa4uZCJ.html
 


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