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Q&A: Air pollution in the city has increased by 47 per cent in last decade

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Rise in population, urbanisation and development are major reasons for the increasing pollution levels of the city. In the last decade the particulate matter and carbon monoxide have increased by two times, which has been a major reason for health issues among citizens. As the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) has been leading the air pollution monitoring program named SAFAR to detect the rising levels of pollution and monitor pollution level of the city, Anvi Mehta talks to Gufran Beig, Chief Project Scientist, SAFAR, IITM about the current air status of the city.

Q Which are the major pollutants that threat the air quality of the city?
Particulate Matter PM2.5 and Particulate Matter PM10 are the main pollutants that are causing respiration related health issues. Since a few years, ozone levels are increasing high enough to cause medical threats. The other pollutants like nitric oxides (NOx) and carbon monoxide (CO) are under permissible level and do not pose direct threat as of now.

Q Is vehicular emission the primary source of pollution in the city?
Primary source of most dangerous pollutant PM2.5 alone vehicles are increasing at a high rate in the city, but the systems are changing and thus the emissions from these vehicles are low compared to vehicles manufactured previously. So, vehicles cannot be termed as the primary reason for all pollutants. The primary source for PM 10 is wind blown dust from unpaved roads and construction activities. Unpaved road dust get aggravated with increase in traffic and stagnant traffic as motorbike goes off the road and speed-up.


Q Is IITM conducting any researches or developing any technique to measure the pollutants of the city and their ill effects on human health?
IITM has developed the SAFAR system by which Puneites can get 3 days advance information through LED display boards; SMS alerts for extreme emergency conditions; etc about pollutants to plan their outdoor activities.. IITM is collaborating with various health experts and institutions to explore research linking air pollution with human health. IITM is also working on impact of air pollution on food security (crop yield).

Q What is the current situation of air quality of the city and the future prediction?
Pune has 10 per cent growth in the PM 2.5 and 20 per cent growth in PM 10 pollutants in a decade. Emissions have increased by 47 per cent in the last decade, and if the same trend continues the city's pollution level will be twice in the next decade. The major areas of Bhosari and Hadapsar are polluted in the city majorly because of the industrial belt, Shivaji Nagar is also highly polluted because of the constant traffic in that area.

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