Air in 6 Odisha cities among most polluted in country | Bhubaneswar News
BHUBANESWAR: Air Quality Index (AQI) in multiple cities across Odisha has worsened in the past few days, reaching levels of above 300 and categorised as very poor.
On Monday, of the 16 cities across India that recorded very poor AQI, six were from the state. AQI of industrial town Angul was 352 surpassing Delhi’s 345, according to the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) daily bulletin.This was followed by Cuttack (340), Bhubaneswar and Balasore (334), and Keonjhar at 326. “Poor AQI indicates the need for immediate measures to curb air pollution,” said environmentalist Jay Krushna Panigrahy.
Panigrahy said in 2018, Angul, Balasore, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Rourkela, Talcher and Kalinganagar were declared non-attainment cities among 132 cities in India by National Green Tribunal and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). These cities consistently failed to meet National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). “The authorities were asked to come up with action plan to reduce pollution levels, but little has been done,” Panigrahy said.
Experts said slow wind speed, fog and moisture from the coast do not allow pollutants to disburse leading to deteriorating air quality.
“We don’t have major polluting industries, but vehicle exhaust, and mining and construction dust combine with adverse weather conditions to cause pollution. Once the wind speed increases and the sky becomes clears, the quality of air will improve,” said N R Sahu, scientist at State Pollution Control Board.
Doctors advised people with respiratory ailments to take precaution. “Polluted air is dangerous for people with respiratory diseases. They should avoid morning walks and strenuous activities that force them to inhale more air,” said Dr Rajesh Kumar Swain.
On Monday, of the 16 cities across India that recorded very poor AQI, six were from the state. AQI of industrial town Angul was 352 surpassing Delhi’s 345, according to the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) daily bulletin.This was followed by Cuttack (340), Bhubaneswar and Balasore (334), and Keonjhar at 326. “Poor AQI indicates the need for immediate measures to curb air pollution,” said environmentalist Jay Krushna Panigrahy.
Panigrahy said in 2018, Angul, Balasore, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Rourkela, Talcher and Kalinganagar were declared non-attainment cities among 132 cities in India by National Green Tribunal and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). These cities consistently failed to meet National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). “The authorities were asked to come up with action plan to reduce pollution levels, but little has been done,” Panigrahy said.
Experts said slow wind speed, fog and moisture from the coast do not allow pollutants to disburse leading to deteriorating air quality.
“We don’t have major polluting industries, but vehicle exhaust, and mining and construction dust combine with adverse weather conditions to cause pollution. Once the wind speed increases and the sky becomes clears, the quality of air will improve,” said N R Sahu, scientist at State Pollution Control Board.
Doctors advised people with respiratory ailments to take precaution. “Polluted air is dangerous for people with respiratory diseases. They should avoid morning walks and strenuous activities that force them to inhale more air,” said Dr Rajesh Kumar Swain.