Not a single ‘Good’ Air Quality day in 2018 in Patna
Patna: Patna did not witness any ‘Good’ air quality day throughout the year in 2018 year, as per recent analysis done by Centre for Environment and Energy Development (CEED). The data available with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for Patna shows that 48% of the total days were in ‘Moderate’ and ‘Satisfactory’ air, whereas 52% of the days were in either ‘Poor’ or ‘Severe’ category. The month of December in 2018 had worst air quality days in Patna where a whopping 51% days were in ‘Severe’ category. According to the health index of the Government of India, a prolonged exposure to this level of pollution is hazardous, even for healthy people.
Patna remained as the most polluted city in India in December 2018, among cities where AQI bulletin is regularly issued by CPCB. The findings are based on data from the real-time air quality monitoring station in Patna.
While commenting on the situation, Mr. Ramapati Kumar, CEO of CEED urged Government of Bihar to immediately implement the Emergency Measures to reduce the the pollution exposer in Patna. Similar kind of level in Delhi will force government to implement the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) and I see no reason as why Government of Bihar can’t do the same in Patna as it is the matter of health and lives of people of this country, Mr. Kumar concluded.
The Air Quality fact sheet, which was aimed at understanding the air quality of Patna, showed that the annual average concentration of PM2.5 in Patna was 121µg/m³, which is 3 times more than the National Standard. Additional analysis of the 24-hr concentration of PM2.5 for 314 monitored days shows that the maximum concentration of PM2.5 across the year was noted on 22nd December 2018 when the value recorded was 432 μg/m3 which is 7 times more than the safe limits (60 μg/m3).
Reacting on preventive measures for Air Pollution in Patna, Ms. Ankita Jyoti, Senior Program Officer, CEED said that first and foremost we must be clear that air pollution is not a seasonal affair and we need round-the-year action. While nothing can be done to control the weather or to remove trapped emissions already emitted, however, a short-term action can control further loading of emissions and prevent higher smog peaks and exposure. In the longer term, Clean Air Action Plan is required to permanently reduce emissions, while GRAP serves as an emergency response plan to rising pollution, she concluded.
As an immediate response to health impacts attributed to the worsening air pollution levels, the Government must develop a Graded Response Action Plan (GARP) and start issuing health advisory. CEED urges the government to take concrete measures to improve the air quality.
1. Ambient Air Quality Data are taken from Central Pollution Control Board website and has been further analyzed and presented
2. The worst Air Quality Day of each month
Date
PM2.5 (μg/m3)
No. of Times
8th January
319
5
24th Feb
227
4
22nd March
175
3
21st May
100
2
15th June
99
2
7th July
69
1
11th Aug
79
1
19th Sep
98
2
26th Oct
169
3
8th Nov
382
6
22nd Dec
432
7
3. Monthly Mean Concentration of PM2.5 (μg/m3) of year 2016,2017 and 2018
