Hyderabad: After Delhi in the north with the worst air quality, Hyderabad has the worst air quality so far among the cities in South and West India.
According to recent data collected from September 2016, the Central Pollution Control Board statistics state Hyderabad as the highest number of red days against the southern and western cities of India.
Hyderabad recorded 2.5 Particulate Matter(PM), levels higher than 2.5 PM are Red days in which air is harmful to all ages.
Particulate Matter(PM)2.5 are particles present in the air that are less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter capable of entering Lungs.
The Pollution Control Board (PCB) officials states though Hyderabad records 2.5PM, the Board maintains the annual average.
Mr P. Veerana, Pollution Control Board scientist, says, “Since it is nearly winter, and monsoon is coming to an end, there is no dispersion of the particulate matter, especially at lower levels. A lot of factors such as low wind speed result in an increase in particulate matter.”
The Pollution Control Board has around 19 manual air quality stations which measure pollution in the air.
According to a PCB official, Hyderabad has the advantage of being landlocked.
Specially Coastal areas like Vizag suffer from higher levels of pollution since the winds cause the dispersion of the pollutants and the humidity in coastal areas makes the particles heavier.
Though the board claims the levels are under control since Hyderabad is landlocked, records of Sholapur which also landlocked has much lower values than that of recorded in Hyderabad.
According to a former chief scientist of Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Dr Babu Rao, “Telangana should try to keep its pollution levels in check. Controlling the number of vehicles and ensuring that heavy vehicles do not enter highly-polluted areas is a must.
Dr Babu Rao, said, “Air quality once lost cannot be restored within a short period of time. PM 2.5 is harmful to everyone, not just to people who are susceptible to breathing problems.”
According to the experts decrease in trees and increasing usage of concrete plays a key role in the deterioration of air quality.
Dr Subba Rao, an Environmentalist, said, “Open spaces are covered in concrete, and we are now gripped by air pollution. Plants act as buffer zones; they help reduce the spread of gaseous pollutants. Dust can also settle on their leaves.”
He explains that leaving no space for greenery and trees which help in refining air and the continuous development of industries in the city will only lead to a further increase in the particulate matter.
Awareness among people is the only solution to bring the situation under control says PCB officials.
“We have encouraged citizens to use public transport to reduce congestion on the roads. There has been no drastic increase in the annual average pollution levels, however, there is a long way to go in the improvement of air quality,” added an official.