No city in low pollution category, say experts

Mumbai: With the recent World Envi-ronment Performance Index report stating that India needs to provide urgent attention to its air quality crisis, experts have stated that number of cities with critical levels of PM10 (particulate matter) have increased over the years. As per the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a Delhi based non-government organisation, only 2 per cent of the monitored 44 cities had PM10 levels within the standard limit in 2016.

“While 60 per cent of the cities were recorded with PM10 levels above the standard in 2007, now 88 per cent of them are critically polluted. There is drastic fall in the number of cities complying with the standard limit and there no cities are in the low pollution category now,” said Anumita Roychowdhary, head of air pollution programme, CSE. The NGO has evaluated the data by the Central Board of Pollution Control (CPCB) and Environment Ministry. 

While the CPCB officials stated that they have directed all the states to come up with 42-point action plan to curb air pollution, none of the states have yet come up with the plan, except Maharashtra. “In terms of curbing dust pollution from roads and construction work, we are formulating action plan for the creation of green buffers along the traffic corridors. We have also suggested mechanised vacuum sweeping of roads,” said D. Saha, head of air quality lab, CPCB.     — ST