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Pollution level this Bhogi was lesser because of the initiatives were taken

Posted on: 15/Jan/2019 6:17:16 PM
The 2 attributes of favourable weather conditions and the initiatives taken and executed by the Pollution Control Board, the pollution level recorded on this years Bhogi festival was lesser as compared to the last year. The maximum pollution was recorded in Chennai Royapuram.

During the last years Bhogi festival,, there was an unprecedentedly higher level of pollution. On that day, a cubic metre of air in Chennai Metro City contained 135 to 386 micrograms of the microns thick micro-particles. The permissible limit was only 100 micrograms! Thus, on that day, the pollution level was 300% more than the permissible level! Due to this, several international flights were diverted to Bangalore, Coimbatore, and Hyderabad, 42 flights arrived late. 40 flight services were cancelled.

With this background of last years experience, initiatives were taken on behalf of the Pollution Control Board to restrict the pollution level to a minimum during this years Bhogi. In order to create awareness on this, a campaign was taken up in all 15 wards under the domain of the Chennai Metro Corporation with 1 autorickshaw each for the campaign.

The issue of pollution was explained to the welfare service organizations and the Apartments welfare associations. And their services were sought to ensure the restricted pollution level.

36 squads were formed on behalf of the Pollution Control Board jointly with the Police Department and patrolling was carried out in all the corporation wards. The instance of burning items was found in some places and immediate action was taken to quench the same with water and sand. Over 1000 old tyre kept for burning were confiscated and removed.

The pollution level was monitored in all the 15 wards on the Bhogi eve and the day of Bhogi. All the places recorded a higher degree of pollution above the permitted level. In a cubic metre of air, 126 to 249 microns of 10micron dust particles were found. A maximum of 210 micrograms was recorded in Chennai Royapuram.

As Chennai Metro Rail projects activities are in progress in Tondiarpet area, a maximum of 249 micrograms was recorded here. The minute dust particle of 2,5 micron was found  20 to 109 microgram in a cubic metre of air.

In a notification by the Pollution Control Board in this regard, It is observed that due to various factors including a conducive climate conditions on that day, the initiatives taken by the Pollution Control Board, the public awareness, and their cooperation ensured that the pollution level  was lesser by 50% this year as compared to the last year. It thanked for the cooperation from all concerned.