Hyderabad: Reduce PM 2.5 levels to curb air pollution

Hyderabad: To tackle air pollution, it is important to reduce the levels of Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5 — fine particules that can enter the blood stream — and both the Central and state governments have to work together to achieve it, said environmental experts.

The PM 2.5 levels in Hyderabad from October are in the range of 75 ug/m3 to 55 ug/m3.

Data from the real-time monitoring units find PM 2.5 levels are very high during the peak hours in the morning and evening and last till late in the night daily.

Experts state that this year the air quality in Hyderabad city has been moderate due to the warm days in November.

A senior Pollution Control Board environmental engineer explained, “Controlling air quality requires working towards reducing the particulate matter. It comprises dust and soot which can be seen. There are also other particles which are from the reactions of various gases like secondary ammonium, organic aerosols and nitrogen oxide, sulphur and volatile organic companies."

To control PM 10 and PM 2.5, it is important for the state and central government to work together to ensure that these levels come down.

The PCB officer said the Clean Air Programme invites complaints on social media and on the website. Action is taken when a complaint is lodged.

Once the full-fledged programme is launched, there will be a need for the Centre and state to work together. The PM content has to be reduced by 35 per cent in the first five years.

The highest number of complaints are from residents staying near construction sites as the work is carried out without covering the area and dust spreads all around. Dust control technology is not used by the construction industry and therefore the level of dust continues to be high.

With pollution in the city being visible due to the high scale of vehicular activity, industrial and human activity being concentrated in specific zones, it is becoming a health hazard for the residents.

Presently, 100 cities in India are on the list where the air quality ranges from poor to moderate.

The PCB siad burning of wood, leaves, stubble and those from energy generating plants does affect the air in the rural areas too. But there are no monitoring plants in these districts to give the real time numbers. The real time data from existing cities also has to be collaborated with the Central Pollution Control Board and that is also taking time as there has not been an upgradation of technology.