news details |
|
|
| Alarming! Jammu figures in WHO list of 20 cities with dirtiest air | | | Kunal Shrivatsa
JAMMU, May 11: In an apparent warning of deteriorating pollution levels in Jammu, the World Health Organization (WHO) in its latest study has indicated that the winter capital of the state is among the twenty cities in the world having dirtiest air.
According to Ambient Air Pollution (AAP) Database released by WHO has shown that of the 20 most polluted cities in the world, 13 are from India and Jammu is one among them as its acceptable particulate matter levels is higher than the prescribed limits.
The AAP Database was taken from almost 1,600 cities in 91 countries which finds that outdoor air pollution in these places has worsened since 2011 thereby by putting the lives of people at peril as they are facing risk of cancer, stroke and heart disease.
While Delhi tops the list with an annual average of 153 micrograms per cubic metre (ug/m3) of small particulates, known as PM 2.5 (fine particulate matter with 2.5 micrometres or less diameter), Jammu found to have PM 2.5 concentrations of 56 ug/m3 of fine particulate matter annually.
The other prominent Indian cities which have higher PM 2.5 concentrations are Dehradun, Pune, Gwalior and Raipur.
Dehradun and Pune have PM 2.5 concentrations of 77 and 59 ug/m3 per annum respectively whereas the cities of Gwalior and Raipur have more than three times the acceptable particulate matter levels in air.
While speaking to Early Times, senior Scientist and Head of Department (HoD) Health Laboratories, J&K State Pollution Control Board (PCB), Dr Yashpal said that the team of experts from the Board has to study the parameters adopted by WHO report to gauge the pollution levels in Jammu and other cities of the country. "We don't know what method was adopted exactly by the World Health Organization to monitor the air pollution level in Jammu city… According to Government of India guidelines we keep a constant and mandatory check on pollutions on four vital parameters of Total Suspended Particulates, Respirable Suspended Particulates, SO2 and NO2."
The senior scientist, however, said that the sample for measuring the air pollution level might have been taken from an area where the concentration of air pollutants is on the higher side in comparison to other parts of the city where such levels are at par or below the acceptable limits.
"A number of reasons contribute to the air pollution… The movement of around 5-6 lakhs vehicles in the radius of 4-5 square kilometers in Jammu city is one such factor while execution of mega constructions in different parts of the city also add on to the air pollution … The construction activity for fly over project in Bikram Chowk area and creation of artificial lake in areas adjoining river Tawi can easily pollute the air," said Dr Yashpal.
When contacted, the Member Secretary J&K PCB, Arun Tickoo said that situation of air pollution in Jammu city is not that alarming as being suggested by the WHO report.
"I don't know the WHO yardstick for the air pollution in Jammu… Even the Government of India has refuted the claims of the report," said Tickoo.
He informed that within a year the capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar would get advanced monitoring systems on the pattern of metro cities to keep a tab on air pollution.
"The advanced Online Continuous Monitoring Systems will be installed in Jammu and Srinagar by the next year… The system will present a clear picture of the air pollution level within a radius of 2 Kms of its installing point and will definitely prove beneficial to go for the remedial measures to ensure pollution free air," he added. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
