Human efforts, increased wind speed drag Kolkata air to ‘moderate’ level in two zones
Times of India | 28 November 2024
12 Kolkata: The city's air saw a modest improvement on Wednesday as it recovered from a sharp dip in Air Quality Index (AQI) levels on Tuesday. A combination of favourable meteorological factors and proactive measures by KMC and the West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) helped ease the pollution burden, though the overall air quality remained in the ‘poor' category. Doctors continued to caution against strenuous outdoor activities, particularly in the morning.
Kolkata experienced a noticeable improvement in AQI levels on Wednesday, with most monitoring stations recording a steady decline in pollution levels throughout the day. Despite starting in the ‘poor' category at 5 am, areas such as Ballygunge and Victoria saw significant reductions by evening. Ballygunge's AQI dropped from 288 in the early morning to 261 by 5 pm, while Victoria showed a similar decline — from 267 to 253. Such improvements indicate reduced pollutant concentrations, likely aided by weather conditions or a decrease in pollutant emissions during the day.
Salt Lake recorded the most significant improvement, with its AQI plunging from 236 at 5 am to 145 by 5 pm, transitioning from ‘poor' to ‘moderate' air quality. Jadavpur and Rabindra Sarovar showed gradual declines as well, with their AQI levels remaining in the ‘poor' range but approaching the upper ‘moderate' category. Conversely, RBU (BT Road) was an exception, registering a slight uptick in pollution levels, from an AQI of 229 in the morning to 253 by evening. Fort William exhibited minimal change, maintaining relatively stable but high levels in the ‘poor' category. Overall, while the day's air quality remained far from ideal, the downward trend in AQI across most stations is a promising sign for the city's residents.
KMC took urgent steps on Tuesday to combat rising pollution, deploying additional water sprinklers to reduce dust resuspension across the city. Fire tenders were dispatched to Dhapa to douse fires at the landfill site. Meanwhile, WBPCB stepped up regulatory monitoring of construction activities. These efforts were complemented by an increase in wind speed, which helped disperse pollutants.
"We have taken efforts to reduce emissions. Apart from sprinkling, we are ready to distribute smokeless chullas in city slums. This will not only improve public health by reducing indoor pollution but also help ambient air quality. However, regional airshed management across the Indo-Gangetic Plain is critical to address transboundary pollution effectively," said WBPCB chairman Kalyan Rudra.
Environment activist Bonani Kakkar of People United for Better Living in Calcutta (PUBLIC) wrote to mayor Firhad Hakim and KMC commissioner Dhaval Jain, urging stricter regulations on construction activities to arrest dust resuspension. "Without firm measures, short-term gains will be undone," Kakkar cautioned.
While the improvement in air quality is encouraging, experts emphasise the need for sustained and coordinated efforts to achieve lasting results. The city's residents remain hopeful as the authorities continue their battle against worsening air pollution.