Patna air pollution worse than that of Delhi

PATNA: Air pollution in Patna on Wednesday deteriorated further to ‘very severe’ category as the air quality index (AQI) released by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) was recorded at 404, worse than Delhi’s 308. This is the first time this year that the AQI level crossed the 400 mark.

Patna was, in fact, the sixth most polluted city in the country in terms of AQI level, which was the highest at Lucknow (486), followed by Ghaziabad (467), Kanpur (448), Moradabad (420) and Noida (410).

The AQI is an assessment of the air quality taking into account eight pollutants: PM2.5 (particulate matter less than 2.5 micron), PM10 (particulate matter less than 10 micron), nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, ozone, carbon monoxide, ammonia and lead.

Alarm bell starts ringing once pollution crosses the 300 mark. AQI of 400 and above is unbreathable and harmful for health. The severe category AQI affects healthy people and seriously impacts those with existing diseases.

The AQI in Patna had last crossed 400 mark in November-December 2015 and the Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB) had issued an advisory to various departments and agencies for taking immediate steps to curb air pollution in the city.

While BSPCB officials said reminders are being sent to various departments and agencies with regard to implementation of the recommendations made in the previous advisory, deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi said the prevailing air pollution scenario in Patna would be reviewed to chalk out an action plan.

“Though the air pollution scenario in Patna in not as grave as Delhi, but it might reach such level if required actions are not taken. I have asked officials from forest department and BSPCB to gather all types of data to be discussed in a review meeting to take immediate steps for curbing air pollution in the city,” SuMo, who is also the environment and forest minister, told TOI.

The 24-hour concentration of particulate matter, being the biggest contributor to AQI in Patna, was measured at 360.65 micrograms per cubic metre on Wednesday afternoon, six times higher than the respective standards.

Suspended road dust particles, vehicular emission and smoke from brick kilns have been linked to higher level of respiratory suspended particulate matter (PM10) in Patna. WHO, in October 2013, had classified outdoor air pollution as carcinogenic (cancer causing agents) to humans.

Pollution control officials also attributed the surge in air pollution level to winter conditions. “The low temperature makes the air denser, which makes the particulate matter stuck in the lower level of atmosphere. The situation is further aggravated by fog at this time of the year, which leads to further trapping of particulate matter,” a BSPCB scientist said.

On the lines of Delhi, BSPCB has also formulated a graded response action plan (GRAP), which will put into action a number of anti-pollution measures and there will be specific actions for each category — moderate to poor, very poor, severe and emergency. The measures include stopping the operation of diesel generator sets, rise in the parking rates and mechanized sweeping of roads, among others.