10 UP cities among the most polluted in country
LUCKNOW : The state capital was ranked as the 11th most polluted city in the country by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) — the agency that surveys air quality — in its Air Quality Index report issued at 4pm on Friday. Sharing the spot with Lucknow were two other UP cities -- Agra and Muzaffarnagar. All three recorded Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5 level of 352µg/m3.
Another UP city, Ghaziabad, also a part of the National Capital Region (NCR), topped the list with a PM 2.5 level of 429µg/m3 and its air pollution level falling under the ‘severe’ category.
Others that followed on ranks two, three and four were Muzaffarpur and Patna in Bihar, and Kolkata in West Bengal. Their PM 2.5 levels were recorded as 420, 406 and 405µg/m3 respectively.
The report presented a dismal picture of half-a-dozen other UP cities too, including Bulandshahr (395µg/m3 PM 2.5), Greater Noida (393µg/m3 PM 2.5), Hapur (383 µg/m3 PM 2.5) Noida (372 µg/m3 PM 2.5) Varanasi (369µg/m3 PM 2.5) and Kanpur (359µg/m3 PM
2.5), which were ranked fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth respectively.
The report exposes the tall claims made by authorities of taking all possible measures to curb pollution levels.
To recall, in 2016, the state government had first directed the pollution control department to take effective steps to combat the menace, such as stopping polluting stone-crushers and keeping a tab on earth-moving works in the cities of Uttar Pradesh. It had suggested sprinking water in places where such works were in progress, to reduce pollution levels. It had also directed the agencies to keep a check on farmers who burnt crop stubble and other farming waste.
“Strict actions should be initiated to control air pollution in cities. Officials with the revenue department should ensure that farmers do not burn farming waste in their fields. The farmers should be motivated to use the farming waste in making manure or in other ways instead of burning.”— the state government order issued at the time had stated.
Besides, the government had also directed the various departments to keep a check on the causes of air pollution, including burning of garbage, and take steps cut down on the pollution emanating from vehicles, especially during prolonged traffic jams. However, two years down the line, not just the state capital but several other cities in Uttar Pradesh remain the most polluted in the country.
Dr Ram Karan, regional officer, Lucknow, UP Pollution Control Board, said, “Notices were served after a team of pollution control board found that construction agencies were carrying out work without implementing prior anti-air pollution measures on sites. Majority of these construction sites are in Gomti Nagar, many in the Shaheed Path area. Apart from issuing notices, some other measures are also being taken to minimise the pollution level here.”