City breathes cleaner as residents celebrate Bhogi responsibly
CHENNAI: In keeping with the tradition of Bhogi, Chennaiites lit bonfires and youngsters beat drums early in the morning in front of their houses. But due to the curfew, other CIVId restrictions and also the awareness campaingns by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB), the celebrations were skeletal and hence the pollutions levels were also low compared to the previous year.
According to a report from the TNPCB, the overall status of gaseous pollutant -
found to be well within the prescribed standards of 80μg/m³ on both pre-Bhogi day and Bhogi day.
Reports on Bhogi day stated the particulate matter (PM2.5) level was in the range of 18-54 μg/m³ as against the prescribed standard of 60 μg/m³ and particulate matter (PM10) was in the range of 45-91 μg/m³ as against the prescribed standard of 100 μg/m³. Based on the Air Quality Index, the minimum AQI value observed was 61 (AQI remarks - satisfactory) at Teynampet and maximum AQI value was 91 (AQI remarks - satisfactory) at Madhavaram.
During the year 2021 on
Bhogi day the AQI value out of the 15 zones of the Greater Chennai Corporation, 12 Zones were in moderate AQI value and the remaining three were in poor AQI value. Whereas this year, all 15 zones were are within satisfactory limit (AQI value-51 to 100).
Airport authorities also stated that there was no disruption in the flight operations on the day of Bhogi. Further, low humidity, moderate temperature and moderate wind speed ensured that the visibility was reasonably good.
The release stated that the awareness programmes by TNPCB, other government departments and NGOs considerably reduced burning of waste materials like tyres, tubes, rubbers, plastics, etc. This, in turn, helped reduce pollution level. The TNPCB thanked all the government departments, NGOs, residents welfare associations, Media and the general public for their cooperation.