Action plan to check pollution in Gzb readied, hot spots identified
GHAZIABAD: The Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) has chalked out an action plan for Ghaziabad to combat air pollution this winter and also identified 10 major pollution hot spots that affect the air quality of the city.
Officials said 18 departments have been tasked to undertake certain steps to reduce air pollution.
According to government data, Ghaziabad is listed among 16 non-attainment cities in Uttar Pradesh with high levels of air pollution. Cities are declared non-attainment if, over a fiveyear period, they consistently do not meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for PM10 or NO2 (nitrogen dioxide).
“In our action plan for the upcoming winter season, the district administration has roped in 18 departments and given them specific roles, which are to be completed in a timebound manner,” said Utsav Sharma, regional officer of UPPCB.
The district magistrate has directed the departments to complete the tasks by October.
The UPPCB has also identified 10 major pollution hot spots across the city and zeroed in on the pollution generating sources in each of the hot spots.
“The 10 hot spots are the ones where infrastructure projects are being undertaken or are affected by high volume of traffic, road dust, industrial activities, burning of waste, dumping of construction and debris, among other issues. In 2020-21, the PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations reduced in the city. We will be closely monitoring the situation this year too,” said Sharma.
According to statistics of the pollution board, in 2019-2020, Ghaziabad recorded an annual average PM10 concentration of 218 micrograms per cubic metre (mpcm), while it reduced by 14.5% in 2020-21.
Likewise, the PM2.5 concentrations stood at an average of 53.04mpcm between April and September this year, compared to 64.20 mpcm during the same period last year. The standard limit for PM10 and PM2.5 is 100mpcm and 60mpcm, respectively.
Residents and environmentalists `said that the city has been battling high levels of air pollution over the last few years, which are compounded by factors such as crop residue burning in neighbouring states.
“The action plan is a shortterm measure. It must be enforced in totality and if possible, be formulated under the guidance of environmental experts. In the long term, it is advised that a detailed study of meteorological, demographic factors, constructions and green areas be taken up to understand why pollution is impacting the city so badly for the past 5-6 years now,” said Akash Vashishtha, a city-based environmentalist and a lawyer.
The list of 10 hot spots also features Kaushambi township. Members of the Kaushambi Apartments Residents’ Welfare Association (Karwa) have petitioned the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and even moved the Supreme Court to resolve different pollution-related issues affecting the township.
“They make plans every year, but results show that the city often reaches ‘severe’ air quality due to pollution in winter. We have been fighting a legal battle against the agencies since 2015 in the NGT and now, in the Supreme Court. Now, they (government agencies) have realised the seriousness of pollution-related issues and included Kaushambi in the list of hot spots,” said VK Mittal, president of Karwa.
The 10 hot spots are the ones where infra projects are being undertaken or are affected by high volume of traffic and road dust, among others. UTSAV SHARMA,