How rain has showers benefitted Chennai?
Posted on: 17/Dec/2015 12:11:56 PM
The recent rainfall in Chennai in November and first week of December has been beneficial in two days. Filth present in Adyar and Cooum rivers are completely flushed out and particulates present in the air are washed away, thereby reducing the overall pollution levels.
Sources from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board stated in November that the four primary pollutants in the city Sulphur dioxide, Nitrogen dioxide, PM10 and PM2.5 have all come down after incessant rain showers. This dip is usually normal, but there is a sharp drop this year and this is due to floods in the city, they add.
These pollutants are present in the air in the form of gas, vapor or particulate matter. While the particulate matter gets washed away in water, the other pollutants get dissolved in the same, stated deputy head at the Centre for Science and Environment in Delhi, Ramakant Sahu. The major sources of air pollution in the city are cars. The rain showers have played a major role in bringing down the pollution concentration.
However, the sad part here is that the scenario is eventually getting back to its original state as the pollution has begun to rise once again. Officials state that there are in fact higher levels of pollution during winter as compared to those in summer.
Gases in the air get trapped during low temperature state. Hence they turn immobile and are reluctant to dispersal. Adding fuel to the fire is the road condition which is worse than ever before. It has made driving on roads so difficult and roads unbearable due to the dusty atmosphere.
Motorists state that Chennai city has got cleaner environment compared to other metros. A whopping 44.7 lakh is the vehicle density in Chennai. In the WHO report, 2014, Chennai city was claimed to have cleaner air in terms of PM10 compared to Delhi, Coimbatore or Nellore. This is achieved with the sea breeze that blows away pollutants.
Chennai enjoys being a unique coastal city where the pollution level gets naturally controlled by sea breeze which is not present even in other mega cities, said Anumita Chaudhary of Centre for Science and Environment.
