Money and manpower crunch hold back pollution control board from implementing new air ambient standards that were announced in 2009
Money and manpower crunch hold back pollution control board from implementing new air ambient standards that were announced in 2009
Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) is yet to implement 12 new air ambient parameters that were announced by the Central Government in 2009 due to lack of equipment and manpower.
Six air quality standards being sulphur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, suspended particulate matter, respirable suspended particulate matter, lead and carbon monoxide are being checked by the KSPCB.
Smoke signals: Vehicles are a major contributor to city's pollution levels. About 45 per cent of emissions is from vehicles, while 13 per cent is from industries and about 15 per cent from infrastructure developmental works like Metro, flyovers and so on. Representation pic
However, the 2009 order requires the board to also monitor ammonia, ozone, benzene, benzo (O), pyrene, arsenic and nickel. KSPCB is facing difficulties in monitoring the new air ambient standards due to the non-availability of equipment. "The equipment has to be imported and costs a lot. We are also taking help from private laboratories and universities that have the instruments to monitor the standards. In Peenya Industrial area, Environment Health Safety Research and Development (a private lab) has come forward to help us in monitoring activity, including the new standards," said KSPCB Chairman A S Sadashivaiah.
"We are likely to obtain the required equipment shortly, with the help of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) or from private parties. The equipment is expensive and each unit cost about 20 to 25 lakh. After purchasing the equipment, our staff has to be trained to use them," he added.
Recently, a meeting was held with CPCB in Chennai and all difficulties were discussed. Another meeting is likely to be scheduled shortly, where the boards will discuss problems and have their queries clarified by the CPCB.
In state, there are 33 air-monitoring stations, out of which 15 are in Bangalore alone. Out of these 15 stations 13 are manual, and 2 situated at City Railway Station and KSPCB regional office complex at S G Halli are Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations.
Bangalore on top CPCB has declared that Bangalore city is tops in the country as Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) level is too high compared to other cities. "This is because of too many vehicles in the city. In the city, about 45 per cent of emission (pollution) is from vehicles, 13 per cent from industries and about 15 per cent from infrastructure developmental works like Metro, flyovers and so on," said Sadashivaiah.
With regard to lack of manpower, he said, "The board is planning to recruit people. And about 60 assistant environmental officers and about 25 scientific assistants for sampling analysis will help us a lot and we can function better then."
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