Poison in the Air: Bhubaneswar among the Top Six Most Polluted Cities of Odisha

Subhasmita Jena
School of Media & Communication, Centurion University, Odisha
Subhasmit119@cutm.ac.in
Abstract
Here is some disturbing news for Odisha as the world prepares to observe World Environment Day, Six
cities of Odisha are among the 102 most polluted in India. Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Balasore, Angul, Talcher,
and Rourkela have failed to maintain the national ambient air quality standards fixed by the Central Pollution
Control Board (CPCB). Whatever be the season, students can be found walking on the campus of Centurion
University, Jatni near state capita Bhubaneswar, their faces covered with a dupatta and hanky. The sight
becomes more common as you move towards the industrial belt of the state. Bhubaneswar witnessed the
worst foggy sky in its history this winter. According to a report of the Odisha State Pollution Control Board,
Bhubaneswar is recording an alarming level of suspended particulate matter (SPM) in the air. It leads to a
serious aggravation of heart and lung diseases and increases the risk of premature death. It could also lead
to cardio-respiratory diseases. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) in its hearing on November 10, 2019,
observed that in Odisha, the primary reasons for air pollution are vehicular emission, road dust, industrial
pollution, pollution from construction, and demolition work. University of Chicago’s Air Quality Life Index
suggests that residents in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar could live 2.7 years longer if the government meets the
WHO air quality standards.

Introduction
Various sources are responsible for air pollution. The natural sources are forest fires, volcanic eruptions,
bacterial decomposition of organic matters, etc. Operation of industrial processes, burning of fuel for heating
and cooking in households, plying of fuel-driven vehicles, use of explosives for mining and in warfare, etc
are anthropogenic sources of air pollution. The air pollutants may be either Primary or Secondary.
The primary pollutants are those which are directly released into the atmosphere and the secondary
pollutants are products of atmospheric reactions of the main primary pollutants. Products of combustion –
both complete and incomplete – of fossil fuels are the main primary pollutants released into the atmosphere.
These include Carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, and unburnt
hydrocarbons. Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are products of the oxidation of carbon. Sulphur
dioxide comes from the burning of sulphur which is invariably present in coal and oil. Oxides of Nitrogen
(NOx), is the product of high-temperature combustion of fuel such as the one taking place inside internal
combustion engines and even, to some extent, in thermal power plants. Besides the products of combustion
of fossil fuels, primary pollutants also include suspended particulate matters (SPM) generated in various
activities and other gases or vapors produced in specific industrial and natural processes e.g. ammonia,
chlorine, chlorofluorocarbon, solvent vapors, etc. A large variety of organic and inorganic compounds like
aldehydes, ketones, acids, nitrates, epoxides, and peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) present in the atmosphere in
extremely low quantities, are considered as secondary pollutants. The well-known meteorological
phenomena associated with air pollution – the Acid Rain and the Photochemical Smog formation – are
attributed to secondary pollutants formed atmospheric reactions.
Air pollution has become very serious in urban areas, mainly due to automobile exhausts, industrial
emissions, and construction work.
The State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) is entrusted with the direct implementation of the provisions of
the Air Act, 1981 to prevent, control, and abate air pollution in the State. The National Ambient Air Quality
Monitoring Network was initiated by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in 1984. In Odisha; 8
NAAQM stations have been established in different phases. Monitoring is being conducted in all eight
stations. Board has also established a State Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Network (SAAQM). At present
SAAQM network has 8 monitoring stations. The monitoring stations have been located in different areas
viz. Residential or rural as well as commercial.
Effects of air pollution
The number of tuberculosis, bronchitis and cardiovascular patients
is increasing dramatically in the industrial clusters of Bhubaneswar,
Khurda, and Jatni. Children, pregnant women, and senior citizens
are the worst victims.

Environmentalists say…
A major source of pollution are automobiles, small industries,
construction waste, domestic and commercial waste and untreated
wastewater, etc.
Both Jatni and Khurda are polluted as they are industrial areas and
the number of industries is only growing. The state capital is also
has a substantial number.

We are not fulfilling any criteria to control air pollution and technology-wise also, we are far behind. What
we do have is the latest ‘Green Technology’, that helps in managing and recycling waste material.
Electric, hybrid, solar energy-based vehicles, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles can reduce air pollution. These
vehicles have been made at the research level and will be introduced in the market soon.
Controlling air pollution is a worldwide challenge.
At the moment, we are using old technology. We should use Green technology to minimize pollution and
wastage.
Every year, seven million people in the whole world are dying prematurely due to air pollution, out of which
1.5 million are Indians.
The major sources of pollution are household, industry, and agricultural waste. Our objective should be to
minimize the waste in these sources. We must have movements in which government, communities, and
individuals all have to join to bring a change.
The days of blaming the government to bring about a change are over. Every individual has to contribute
to reduce pollution.

Conclusion
To curb air pollution and enhance the environmental performance of industries, the Government of Odisha,
in association with the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC India) launched the Star
Rating program in 2018. Star Rating program is a public disclosure program to maintain transparency of
environmental performance. It utilizes continuously monitored emissions data from major industrial plants
in Odisha, to categorize industries from 1-star to 5-star, i.e. from least compliant to most compliant. The
program is restricted to particulate matter (PM) emissions. The sectors identified by Odisha State Pollution
Control Board (OSPCB), with high emission potential are cement, captive power plants, independent power
plants, pulp and paper, integrated steel, sponge iron, fertilizer, aluminum, smelter, and power complex.
The World Environment Day celebrated on June 5, started in 1972 during the United Nations Conference
on the Human Environment, which led to the creation of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).
The aim of celebrating World Environment Day is "encouraging worldwide awareness and action for the
protection of our environment". Since its inception, this day has developed into a global platform for raising
awareness and taking action. It is celebrated in over 100 countries. The theme of this year’s International
Environment Day is “Air Pollution”.