World Environment Day- RSPM biggest pollutant: TERI Report

In 2014-15, MPCB monitored pollutants such as Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM), SOx and NOx across 71 active Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (AAQMS) in Maharashtra.

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“Traffic congestion and vehicular emissions could be attributed to increase in NOx concentration in these areas. Compared to last year, the Navi Mumbai area has recorded reduction in NOx pollution,” the report, prepared by The Energy Research Institute (TERI), has found. RSPM continued to be the biggest pollutant in the state this year. It was found to exceed the annual standard at almost all the sites in 2014-15, according to the report.

Stations at Navi Mumbai, Aurangabad, Chandrapur recorded the highest RSPM concentrations in the state. “While Aurangabad region is severely affected by RSPM pollution, industrial area CIDCO of Nanded recorded the highest RSPM concentration (186 microgramme per cubic metre) followed by Jalna with 176 microgrammes per cubic metre. “These sites have high PM concentration because of industries, mining activities, quarry sites, emission from industries and vehicles,” the report said.

Meanwhile, SO2 concentrations were under permissible standards at all stations except Aurangabad CIDCO, with annual average of 81.6 microgramme per cubic metre —- almost double last year’s concentration.

Overall, the industrial area of Nanded recorded significantly high level of pollution in 2014-15. Highly polluted regions of Chandrapur, Kalyan and Navi Mumbai, however, recorded an improvement in air quality compared to previous years, the report found.

“Strict norms for the construction sector, maintenance of roads, responsible supervision at quarry sites should minimise dispersion of RSPM in the air,” the report concluded.

anjali.lukose@expressindia.com