IIT Kanpur to conduct air quality study in city

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 16

After Chandigarh witnessed air pollution at record high in the past two days, the UT Administration has decided to get a fresh study on the city’s air quality conducted from the experts of IIT Kanpur, who are already conducting a similar study in Delhi with the support of the Union Government.

Confirming the development, a top UT functionary told The Tribune here on Saturday that IIT Kanpur would use a spectrometre and other monitoring devices to quantify the various factors in higher level of PM2.5.

The development assumes significance as Chandigarh had witnessed the highest-ever concentration of PM2.5, a pollutant which is so fine that it can reach our lungs directly and then the blood system, both on June 14 and 15.

“Air quality index of Chandigarh was reported to be on higher side which was a matter of serious concern,” the functionary said.

Even during a recent study at the local level, it was found that the air quality of Chandigarh was deteriorating, 

especially in the months of winter. “There are various reasons for deteriorating air quality, including higher population and vehicle density, location of the city and industrial surroundings, temperature effect, human activities, crop harvesting seasons and effect of pollens,” the study has revealed.

“It is necessary to conduct study to know the proportionate of various factors in the higher value of PM2.5 being reported in the city,” the functionary said.

Meanwhile, for tackling the air and noise pollution, the UT Administration has also planned a time-bound switchover to use of CNG by public transport vehicles and giving priority to developing footpaths and cycle tracks to reduce dependence on motorised vehicles on priority. “For this purpose, a comprehensive urban air quality management strategy will be formulated,” the officer disclosed.

It was found that noise pollution levels in the city are also increasing. To curb this, the UT is contemplating that while granting permission of use of loudspeakers to residents on the occasion of events by the Deputy Commissioner or Sub-Divisional Magistrates, levels of noise would also be prescribed in their permission letters so that they should comply. These would also contain instructions to the DJ and sound music companies that if they do not comply the prescribed limits they will face action, including cancellation of their licence or permission to operate.

“The SHOs of respective police stations and officials of SDM offices will also be made aware about the prescribed limits of decibel levels of noise, so that they can monitor the same, taking care to be cautious and sensitive in their approach and not unnecessarily intrusive,” the functionary revealed.

Plan in the offing

The UT Administration, in a bid to curb air and noise pollution in Chandigarh, is also contemplating making the city roads free of human or animal propelled rickshaws/carts and replace these with e-rickshaws and e-carts. “It is a roadmap for four-five years starting with replacement of animal-driven carts. If we can achieve it, Chandigarh will be the first city to do it,” an officer claimed.