Air quality in city, outskirts ‘unhealthy’
Phenomenon has been seen for a few years; people should be alert
With particulate matter (PM) 2.5 crossing the permissible level in Sanathnagar area, the air quality in the city and its outskirts is officially termed ‘unhealthy’.
The instantaneous levels show the average as 47 ug/m3 of particulate matter 2.5 and the average shows as 62.0 PH ug/m3. The instantaneous level of 47 ug/m3 has been recorded regularly since last three years stated sources as soon as the winter sets in Hyderabad city.
The other recording centres have shown lower levels but throughout the winter months the average levels are the same across showing that the heavy particles in the air are a concern and people must be alert.
The heavy particulate matter sets in from 4.30 pm to 11.30 pm due to the heavy vehicular traffic at this time of day.
A senior pollution control board official, who did not want to be named, said, “Hyderabad is among the top 10 cities in India with the heaviest vehicular pollution levels during winter. The phenomenon has been seen for a few years, but due to better awareness, people are being more careful now.”
Particulate matter increases in the winter season in the evenings and remains till 9 am in the morning.
Its dispersal is very slow and starts after the sunrise.
Vehicular emissions and construction activity are the biggest culprits for the presence of high levels of particulate matter in the air.
There are gases like nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide which are found to be within the permissible limits only that are present but these are within permissible limits. Metals such as benzene, xylene and others, emitted mostly by diesel vehicles that ply mostly at night also add to the poisonous cocktail that we breathe.
A senior pollution control board officer says that a master plan for controlling environmental pollution in Hyderabad was drawn up in 2003.
“We have got CNG gas and some other infrastructure issues sorted out, but much more has to be done. The number of vehicles is the biggest challenge for now and it needs to be addressed effectively,” the officer said.
The levels of PM 2.5 are very high at Charminar bus-stop, HCU, Kukatpally, Zoopark, Bollaram, ICRISAT. Levels are showing in the category of 66 to 91 ug/m3 in the month of January 2018.
The levels of PM 2.5 in September ranged between 19 to 56 ug/m3 in these areas, and peaked in the second week of October where it has shown between 50 to 55 ug/m3.