Haze pollutant now a criteria for AQI

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) will add the parameter of PM 2.5 in the manual air monitoring stations across the state. As of now, the manual stations did not have this particulate matter. The PM 2.5 are the particles that are two and a half microns or less in width, whose elevated levels could lead to poor visibility and health concerns in the affected areas.  

“As of now, the manual air monitoring stations do not include the PM2.5 for determining the air quality index. The parameters that are considered are NO2, SO2 and PM10. We are trying to create a bigger network of air monitoring stations,” said S.C. Kollur, a scientific officer, MPCB. Around 57 monitoring stations are going to come in 17 districts of Mumbai that lack air monitoring stations.

The Asian Age had earlier reported that the ten real-time air monitoring stations are going to be set up in Mumbai and other seven stations in Navi Mumbai, Thane, Vasai-Virar and Kalyan-Dombivali have been proposed. Officials stated that the city and suburban areas would get these new air-monitoring stations by the end of March 2018.

“We are trying to cover the areas that are not already covered by SAFAR,” added Mr Kollur. The System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research’s (SAFAR) air monitoring system has stations at Borivali, Malad, Andheri, BKC, Worli, Chembur, Mazagaon, Colaba and Bhandup in Mumbai region. The new real-time air monitoring stations will be located at  Borivali, Sakinaka, Ghatkopar, and Churchgate.