POLLUTION LEVEL

IN
MAHARASHTRA AND
ODISHA
(before and after
DIWALI)
ARYAN TAGUNDE
XB
16124
 SOME TERMS RELATED TO POLLUTON AND
FACTS
HEALTH EFFECTS COULD
AQI VALUES AIR QUALITY IS BE
0-50 Good People are no longer
 AQI is a mean of pollutants such as particulate matter exposed to any health
risk.
(PM2.5 and PM10), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2),
51-100 Moderate Acceptable air quality
sulfur dioxide (SO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) for a healthy adults but
emissions as a single value. still pose threat to
sensitive individual.
 PM 10 is particulate matter 10 micrometers or less in 101-200 Poor Poor air quality can
diameter, PM 2.5 is particulate matter 2.5 micrometers affect health issues such
as difficulty in
or less in diameter. PM 2.5 is generally described as breathing.
fine particles. The growing awareness of both PM 10 201-300 Unhealthy Toxic air can provoke
and PM 2.5 is largely associated with the potential health difficulties
expecially to the young
damaging effects they can have on the human body. kids and elderly people..
The World Health Organization (WHO) believes particles 301-400 Severe Breathing polluted AQI
are affecting more people worldwide than any other may lead to chronic
health issues.
pollutant. Primary health effects include damage to the 401-500+ Hazardous AQI exceeding 400 is
respiratory and cardiovascular systems highly unacceptable to
human- can lead to
premature death.
 BEFORE DIWALI:
POLLUTION LEVEL IN MAHARASHTRA

 Despite the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) claiming levels of particulate matter (PM) have
declined in Mumbai, data released on Friday shows the city’s level of PM 10 in 2018 was the highest in over
20 years. According to the CPCB, PM 10 and PM 2.5 levels in Mumbai have been steadily increasing.
 The environment ministry’s data contradicts the MPCB’s claim on World Environment Day (June 5) that
there has been a 6% decline in PM2.5 levels and 9% decline in PM10 levels in 2018-19 from 2017-18, across
major cities in Maharashtra including Mumbai. A sharp drop in particulate pollution was recorded in 2001
when levels fell to 67.2µg/m3 while in 1999, they were at 115µg/m3. PM2.5 levels, which are being
measured since 2015, were also the highest in 2018 for Mumbai. Levels of sulphur dioxide (SO2) and
nitrogen oxide (NOx) levels were within limits.
 Mumbai recorded the worst air quality across Maharashtra in October, which was also the month with the
worst recorded air quality in the year so far, according to the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB).
 It was visible a day before Diwali [November 13] the air quality was bad but owing to a rise in wind speed
and increase in temperature, there was a dynamic change in air quality on Diwali .
 AFTER DIWALI:
POLLUTION LEVEL IN MAHARASHTRA

 According to a nine-city air quality analysis by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board
(MPCB), Mumbai breathed the most polluted air in the state during Diwali. According to MPCB’s report, AQI
in Mumbai on Diwali was a moderate 196, and 219 on the following day.. Air quality index (AQI) for all
pollutants on Saturday was 111 (moderate) with PM2.5 levels in the satisfactory category at 54 micrograms
per cubic metre (µg/m3) against the safe limit of 60 µg/m3, and AQI for PM10 at 98 (satisfactory).
 Cities like Pune and Ahmednagar have poor AQI ,i.e. between 100-200 can cause health issues such as
difficulty in breathing, while cities like Mumbai and Nasik have AQI that is unhealthy or harmful for humans,
Toxic air can provoke health difficulties especially to the young kids and elderly people.
 On Diwali, the average noise levels in Mumbai ranged between 59 and 71 decibels (dB). Noise levels on the
day of Diwali (November 14) had dip marginally in the Mumbai as compared to the decibel levels recorded in
the previous years of Diwali
 BEFORE DIWALI:
POLLUTION LEVEL IN ODISHA

 Air pollution is one of the risk factors in Odisha. The death rate per 1 lakh population at 65.3 is quite similar
to that of Delhi. Air pollution is real in Odisha, notwithstanding the claims of State government. The State’s
three top cities Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Rourkela stand more polluted than cities like Raipur
(Chhattisgarh capital), Indore (MP) and Bangalore (Karnataka).
 While the annual PM10 level in Cuttack air is measured at 114 micrograms/m3, the NO2 is measured at 34
micrograms/m3 and SO2 at 4 micrograms/m3, the PM10 pollutant in air of smart city Bhubaneswar is gauged at
99 micrograms/m3, SO2 at 2 micrograms/m3 and NO2 at 17 micrograms/m3.
 Apart from the WHO reports the Greenpeace report said that the world’s largest nitrogen oxide air
pollution emission hotspots are in India. Odisha is one of the biggest hotspots that have the highest level of
air pollution in the country.
 AFTER DIWALI:
POLLUTION LEVEL IN ODISHA

 The pollution levels in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha after Diwali dropped drastically. After the AQI was recorded
from several locations in the city, the level was hazardous when people started bursting crackers.
 All the major cities in Odisha have an AQI of 100 or more, and the average AQI of the state was 130. When
the noise pollution in the peak hours (8 PM) on the D-day hovered at around 72, the bad news is the
PM2.5 and PM10 level in the City shot up to ‘very poor’ and ‘poor’ level in the peak hours.However, the big
change observed this Diwali is unlike earlier years, the PM2.5 and PM10 levels in the air showed a big dip on
the day after Diwali day.
 The average AQI in Bhubaneswar was 137 this time as against 164 last year and that of Puri, 103 as against
203 last year.
 CAUSES OF AIR POLLUTION IN INDIA

 These fuels are used for cooking purposes and warmth during winters. There are currently 100 million
estimated stoves in use in India, which means they are being used thrice each day. India used 148.7 million
tonnes of coal replacement worth of fuel-wood and biomass annually for domestic energy use. The fuel
wood quality in India is different from the dry firewood of the United States; and, the Indian stoves in use
are less efficient, thereby producing more smoke and air pollutants per kilogram equivalent.
 In India, gasoline carries a much higher tax than diesel, which in turn is taxed more than kerosene meant as
a cooking fuel, while some solvents and lubricants carry little or no tax. So when the prices of the taxed
hydrocarbons go up people tend to mix taxed and cheaper hydrocarbons, especially the auto-rickshaw and
taxi drivers and the addition results in higher levels of HC, CO and PM emissions even from catalyst-
equipped cars.
 Traffic congestion reduces average traffic speed and at low speeds, vehicles burn fuel inefficiently and
pollute more per trip as the scientific studies reveal.
 India is the third highest emitter of greenhouse gasses only after the USA and China, one of the main
reasons of which can be the inefficient thermal power plants in India. As compared to Europe the power
plants of India produce more CO2 per kW of energy produced.
 POLLUTION LEVELS IN MAJOR CITIES OF ODISHA
250

200

150

100

50

0
Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Unhealthy
Bhubaneshwar Jatani Konarka Puri Brahmapur Sambalpur Cuttack Raurkela
AQI PM2.5ug/m3 PM10ug/m3
 POLLUTION LEVELS IN CITIES OF MAHARASHTRA
250

200

150

100

50

0
Good

Good

Good
Unhealthy

Unhealthy

Poor

Moderate
Poor

Moderate

Moderate

Moderate

Poor

Poor

Moderate

Moderate

Moderate

Moderate

Moderate

Poor

Moderate

Poor

Moderate

Poor

Poor

Poor

Moderate

Poor

Poor

Poor

Poor

Poor

Moderate
Ahmadnagar
AkolaAmravati
Aurangabad
Bhayandar
Bhiwandi
BhusavalChanda
Chinchvad
Dhulia
Ichalkaranji
JalgaonJunnar Kalyan KhedKolhapurLaturMalegaon
MumbaiNagpurNanded Nasik
Osmanabad
Panchgani
ParbhaniPune Sangli SolapurThane
UlhasnagarUranYavatmal

AQI PM2.5ug/m3 PM10ug/m3 Temp°C Humid%

 MEASURES TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT TO
REDUCE POLLUTION

 This act was passed in 1981 to regulate air pollution in India and since then there have been some
significant improvements in the pollution toll.
 The Delhi govt had made this initiative strict rule on the usage of personal transportation and to encourage
usage of public transportation. This move was appreciated and duplicated in many other places that face
problems related to pollution.
 Urban transportation needs a complete revolution with cycles and it is appreciable and should be
duplicated. Odisha govt has also taken a step towards it with its “Mo Cycle” and “Mo Bus” initiatives.
 Construction sites can be blamed for the dust in the city air. Hence this was an initiative to help curb down
the dust in the air.
 Heavy vehicles carrying load both clutter and pollute the city roads and are a major cause of traffic
congestion. Hence directing them away from that pass through the outskirts of the city helps avoid these
problems.
 Six cities in Odisha have been included under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), a webinar on
International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies mentioned.
 The six cities in Odisha are Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Angul, Talcher, Balasore and Rourkela.
 Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR)
 It was indigenously developed by Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune.
 It is run by India Meteorological Department (IMD).
 The objective is to provide Real-time air quality index on 24×7 basis with colour coding along with 72-hour
advance weather forecast.
 Emission standards have been notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to check pollution.
 Minimal National Standards (MINAS) have been presented for highly polluting industries under The Air
(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and Environment (Protection) Act 1986.
 Power plants (coal based) located beyond 1000 kms from the pit-head are required to use low ash content
coal (not exceeding 34%) with effect from 1.6.2002. Power plants located in the sensitive areas are also
required to use low ash coal irrespective of their distance from the pit head.
 MEASURES TO REDUCE POLLUTION

 Lower the consumption of energy at home.

 Looking for the energy star label before buying the appliances.
 Use carpooling, public transportation whenever possible.
 Keeping the car, boat and other engines properly tuned.
 Reduce the number of trips you take in your car.
 Reduce excessive idling on your mobile phone or laptops.
 Reduce or eliminate the usage of stoves and fireplaces.
 Avoid burning leaves, trash, and other garbage
 Use spill-proof gasoline containers to reduce of wastage of fuel.
 Using sustainable clothing, and reducing or avoiding the usages of one-time-use plastics
• Agricultural crop residues: Manage agricultural residues, including strict enforcement of bans on open
burning
 Post-combustion controls: Introduce state-of-the-art ‘end-of-pipe measures’ (a method that is used to
remove already formed contaminants from a stream of air, water, waste, product or similar) to reduce
sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate emissions at power stations and in large-scale industry
 Industrial process emissions standards: Introduce advanced emissions standards in industries, e.g., iron and
steel plants, cement factories, glass production, chemical industry, etc.
 Emissions standards for road vehicles: Strengthen all emissions standards, with special focus on regulation
of light- and heavy-duty diesel vehicles
 Vehicle inspection and maintenance: Enforce mandatory checks and repairs for vehicles
 Dust control: Suppress construction and road dust; increase green areas
SOURCES

 www.aqi.in
 www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com
 www.hidustantimes.com
 www.indiatoday.in
 www.odishabytes.com
 www.Odishatv.in
 www.airpollution.io
 www.telegraphindia.com