NOT just air, level of noise pollution in major cities of Chhattisgarh including state capital Raipur, Bilaspur, Durg and steel city Bhilai had come down considerably on Diwali night, in comparison to pollution-level of previous year. Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board (CECB) gives credit to state government’s measure ‘green and clean’ Diwali campaign. However, environment activists contradict giving credit to late afternoon rain occurred on Diwali settling down the dust and carbon particles to earth.
Citing condition of Odisha State which, perhaps, had recorded lowest ever pollution level in air due to heavy rains for four-five days forcing people to refrain from bursting crackers during Diwali celebration, Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan convener Alok Shukla said that Chhattisgarh government’s measure might have little effect in controlling pollution level on Diwali, but rains played a crucial role. A thick cloud of dust could be seen in night in State capital on Diwali.Meanwhile, according to the data available with CECB, Bilaspur and Raipur had recorded a significant 38 and 28 per cent decline in air pollution.
Similarly, remarkable reduction in SO2 level (11-12%), PM10 (3.5 to 4.5%) and NOx (well within limits, but reduced by 2.2 to 2.7%) was recorded in Durg and Bhilai respectively. Seven per cent fall in the level of noise pollution was recorded on Diwali this year in the capital against last year whereas it was around 23 per cent in Bilaspur this year. Similarly, reduction in sound level during Diwali was recorded 2.44% in Bhilai against the last year whereas 4.92 per cent reduction was recorded in Durg.
Data also showed a fall in levels of Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) or PM10, Oxides of Nitrogen (NO2) and Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), which are associated with respiratory disorders, in both the cities, said Amar Prakash Sawant of Environment Conservation Board. The PM 10 level was recorded 82.04 micrograms per cubic meter on an average, as compared to 104.6 last year in Raipur while the sound level was registered 91.33 decibels (dB) this year which was 97.21 dB on Diwali in 2016, he added.
This year Bilaspur’s PM 10 level recorded 92.3 micrograms per cubic meter on an average, as compared to 148.7 last year. Noise level was 82.3 decibels (dB) this year in comparison to 119.1 dB in 2016. The statistics of Raipur also indicated a major decline in presence of harmful oxides of nitrogen (NO) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) levels, which affects respiratory conditions and reduce lung function.
It needs to be mentioned, Chief Minister Raman Singh and State Environment Minister Rajesh Munat had appealed to people of the state to boycott Chinese crackers and comply with the directives of Supreme Court in connection with the crackers during the festival. The State Government had also banned firecrackers with high decibels and those highly contributing to air pollution during Diwali celebrations which was followed by a very meagre number of people.
Environment Department Principal Secretary and Chairman of CECB Aman Kumar Singh had earlier instructed all district collectors for running an awareness programme called ‘No Crackers’ seeking support of people to prevent air and sound pollution during the festival. In contradiction, Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan convener Shukla said, “Rains on Diwali helped State Government save its face to some extent. Independent studies on environment fully contradict the data provided by State. The truth is that the people of Chhattisgarh live in risk throughout the year.”
