Dimapur, 10 April (MTNews): Stating that the air quality of Kohima and Dimapur city has been placed under non-attainment cities concerning the particulate matter (PM10), Scientist ‘B’ Nagaland Pollution Control Board, Yanathung Kithan said it was a serious concern.
Speaking under the theme, “Awareness and Capacity Building” during the National Clean Air program on 10 April at Don Bosco School Dimapur, Kithan said that the annual average concentration of Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) for Dimapur City has been increasing over the consecutive years starting from 2019-2022.
According to him, the annual average concentration of RSPM which the Government has set is 60, where below 60 shows the air quality is good.
However, from 2019-2022, Dimapur recorded 79, 78, 99, and 97 which is on an increasing trend. Meanwhile, RSPM for Kohima from 2019-2022 has shown improvement over the years as it decreased from 91, 89, 77, and 72.
Kithan also pointed out that under the order of the National Green Tribunal, “it is directed to impose a penalty to violators, concessioner, ULB, and any person or body responsible for such burning” and said, they are liable to pay environmental compensation of Rs 5000, in case of simple burning, while Rs 25,000 in case of bulk burning.
He also highlighted the health impacts of Air Pollution which have caused Asthma, Cardiovascular, Lung Cancer, Diabetes, and Child Development.
“The overall pollution-related deaths were also the highest in India which includes water, lead, and occupation-related pollution,” he added.
Kithan further urged all the individuals, local bodies, Gram panchayat, and village councils to ensure that the open burning of plastic waste does not take place.
“Air pollution is affecting people throughout their lifetime and it’s the sole responsibility of not only one department but the whole community and individuals to come together to improve the quality of our environment,” he added.
Kithan also talked about how the Central Government launched National Clean Air Program (NACP) as a long-term, time-bound, national level strategy to achieve the targets and it has aimed at a 40% reduction in particulate matter by 2026.
Under the National Air Monitoring program, he mentioned that Nagaland has 11 manual monitoring stations – 7 manual stations in Dimapur and 4 in Kohima, and 1 Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS).
Meanwhile, for Waste Management, Kithan informed that in Nagaland, there is only one scientific treatment plant in Kohima having 50 TPD Capacity which is funded under the ADB-assisted NE Region Urban Development Program funded through the MoHUA.
The keynote address in the program was presented by the EAC of Dimapur, Imlijungla Lemtur. A vote of thanks was delivered by SDO(C) Dimapur, L Samuel, NCS.