23/10/2017
PUNE: People in
four localities in Pune have been advised to wear masks as air monitoring
system has raised an alarm. Air pollution level is 800 times above WHO safety
norms prescribed for Indian conditions.
Pune's pollution levels were 100 times above the existing
levels on a normal day and 800 times above WHO's safety norms prescribed for
Indian conditions on Diwali. Two days after Diwali, the air quality in Pune has
still not seen better days. Government Air Monitoring System 'Safar' has given
health alert advisory in four areas - IMD Shivajinagar, Katraj, Lohegaon and
Hadapasar.
The air pollution figures from the Safar Air Monitoring System
show that senior citizens, children along with healthy people may experience a
blow to their health. The four localities in Pune have been advised to avoid
stepping outside and people living there have been advised to wear pollution
masks.
On Saturday morning, air pollution figures for PM2.5 were air
quality index (AQI) 326. AQI 326 corresponds to 154 micrograms per metre cubic
of PM2.5, which is three times more than the set standard of air pollution by
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
CPCB has set the standard to 60 micrograms per cubic metre
PM2.5. This means, air having 0 to 60 particulate matter is okay for breathing
and 326 PM2.5 means, during this time, people are inhaling 154 polluted air
particles which is harmful to the lungs.
Apart from bursting of firecrackers, the emission from
vehicles and the gases from industries are also responsible for the increased
pollution in the air. Dr Sundip Salvi - the director at Chest Research
Foundation said, "The breathing zone air pollution figures as per the
survey of Chest Research Foundation showed drastic rise in the air pollution
from 600 PM2.5 to 40,000 PM2.5 while the crackers were up."
This survey was carried out on the day of Laxmi pooja on the
busy street and market place area of Laxmi Road in Pune.
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