The air in neighbouring Ghaziabad is laden with poisonous particles. The particulate matter (PM) 2.5 in the city hovers above 382 per cubic metre. PM 2.5 caused by the fuel emission may cross 400 soon and its impact could be seen on the borders of the national Capital too. Officials of the UP Pollution Control Board have sounded the alarm bells as the pollution level in the city has been registering upswing and urgent measures are needed to control it.
According to the State pollution board Regional Officer Paras Nath Yadav, 24-hour ambient air quality monitoring tests conducted on the borders of Ghaziabad and Delhi on the directions of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) have been inconclusive. The tests were conducted in past months by the regional pollution control board at the Apsara Border near Dilshad Garden and on NH-24 near UP Gate in February.
“Decrease in pollutants, particularly those of ultrafine particulate matter, in the past two months could be attributed to wet weather conditions. High moisture content in the air helps settle air particles quickly. But these figures are not reflective of any long-term decreasing trend in pollution levels in Ghaziabad”, Yadav said.
“The major contribution in the increasing pollution in the air is from the vehicles plying in the city: said Vijay Pal Singh Baghel an environmentalist of the city.
A recent survey conducted by the Government agencies itself revealed shocking figures at 382 per cubic metre which was even higher than Delhi added Baghel. The average of PM 2.5 levels at Apsara Border were 383 micrograms per cubic metre respectively few months ago. The corresponding figures for these parameters on the same dates on NH-24 were higher at 400 during peak hour’s micrograms per cubic metre respectively Baghel said.
Regional transport is apathetic towards the regulation of rules. Old vehicles despite being in miserable condition are plying on roads. These vehicles generate enormous quantity of pollution. In addition to the heavy buses, trucks and goods carrying vehicles, the three wheelers are also contributing in to it. Ghaziabad is suffering from air and water pollution on account of more and more obsolete vehicles plying on city roads due to authority negligence said TPS Tyagi the chairman of Ghaziabad RWA federation The industrial units operating in the area are also contributing in to it by polluting ground water by discharging untreated affluent and some dying units on the Delhi border are discharging hazardous chemicals in to ground water through reverse boring” said Tyagi.
“The State Government must ponder over operation of CNG buses in the city to get rid of soaring air pollution levels,” Tyagi added. Pollution control board officers are not paying heed towards rising pollution levels in the city, an office-bearer of the RWA said.