When Manoj Bajpayee in year 2012’s cult movie ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’ said, “Itna Bum Marenge Ki Ilaka Dhuan Dhuan Hojayega (Our bomb explosions will cover this place with smoke)”, it only came across as a dramatic way of presenting the bad blood between gangs in Wasseypur – a neighbourhood in Jharia Assembly constituency.
Cut to 2020, it is an interesting coincidence that Jharia town is indeed covered in smoke, albeit from coal dust and not gunpowder.
The fourth version of Airpocalypse report by Greenpeace India, released on Tuesday, has highlighted that Jharia is the most polluted city in India in terms of Particulate Matter (PM) 10 – extremely small particles in the air that contribute to pollution. Jharia’s PM10 levels are five times higher than National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), the report has revealed. Greenpeace India identified 231 of 287 cities for monitoring under National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP) – an initiative of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climatic Change.
Under the programme, the cities are expected to reduce air pollution levels by 20 per cent to 30 per cent by 2024 from 2017 levels. However, Airpocalypse - IV report highlights that Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has identified only 122 non-attainment cities and 102 of them are included under NCAP till now. These 122 cities are spread across 28 states and nine union territories. There are 116 more cities exceeding 60 µg/m3 limit prescribed by NAAQS, according to 2018 annual data, and should be included in the non-attainment category, the report said.
Dhanbad, known for its rich coal reserves and industries, is the second-most polluted city in India, according to the report.
During the survey, cities were monitored for more than 50 days in 2018. Besides Jharia, Dhanbad, Sindri, Jamshedpur, Saraikela Kharsawan, Ranchi and Barajmada have made to the list of non-attainment cities. Greenpeace India’s Senior Campaigner Avinash Chanchal said, “It is worrying to see that more than 80 per cent cities had PM10 levels exceeding the 60 µg/m3 limit prescribed under National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
If we want to make NCAP truly a national programme, then we have to include all polluted cities into it and implement it with the addition of specific pollution and emission reduction targets in a time-bound manner.”
Geographically, Jharia lies in the heart of the coal belt in Jharkhand. Coal dust emission is one of the major environment concerns in the area. Jharia’s neighbouring city, Dhanbad, was adjudged the dirtiest city in India in the first ever ‘Swacchata’ survey conducted by the first Narendra Modi-led Government at the Centre.
The survey was conducted in 2014 and got Jharkhand the infamy of having the dirtiest city of the country within its borders.
