Dust collectors in grain markets soon to curb air pollution: PPCB

Air samples from 10 grain markets revealed respirable particulate matter was 5 to 8 times more than the prescribed limit of 100 microgram per cubic metre KAHAN SINGH PANNU, chairperson, Punjab Pollution Control Board

Dust pollution in grain markets that poses a huge risk to the health of thousands of farmers and workers will be a thing of the past. The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has decided to install mechanical grain clears to curb air pollution.

Announcing this, PPCB chairman Kahan Singh Pannu said the dust not only increases pollution but is the main cause of respiratory and lung diseases among labourers, farmers and those residing near the grain markets. “We took air samples from 10 main grain markets of the state and found that RPMs (Respirable Particulate Matter) was five to eight times more than the prescribed limit of 100 microgram per cubic metre, he said on Monday.

Pannu said the board has developed a dust collector to check air pollution during the cleaning process of crops. “These dust collectors can preserve 80 to 90% of the dust particles,” he added.

There are 50,000 mechanical grain cleaners in the grain markets in the state which produce a lot of dust and an estimated six workers works on single machine. Nearly three lakh workers are affected by dust pollution.

“With dust mounting machines fitted on mechanical grain cleaners, 90% dust will accumulate in them, thereby helping to keep the environment clean,” said the PPCB chairman.

This machine was successfully tested in Asia’s largest grain market Khanna.

The board is taking steps to make the machine mandatory on mechanical grain cleaners in all the grain markets.