Ludhiana: Going by lax surveillance in the city, AQI monitoring does not seem to be a priority for authorities. In 2020, when National Clean Air Programme was launched, the MC proposed to establish air quality monitoring stations at 15 sites after a survey of 21 locations. However, the plan was dropped.The MC has kept Rs 10 lakh aside for one air quality monitoring station but there is no clarity on its installation. There is one automatic air quality monitoring station outside PAU. Four others are manual and are being monitored by Punjab Pollution Control Board.In 2020, the MC decided to install 15 air quality monitoring systems across the city. The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) also planned four air quality monitoring systems. The sensor-based system, pegged at Rs 2.41 crore, was to have been established in six months. The monitoring systems would have monitored air quality of multiple areas as air pollution levels are not uniform. A few places with more greenery have better air than places without a single park or green patch. Vehicular movement and emissions also differ in various localities. MC executive engineer Balwinder Singh said, "The plan was dropped after directions from the state environment ministry as PPCB is supposed to do it." He said they did not follow it up later as they had other projects under the NCAP.PPCB chief engineer R K Ratra said, "I will have to cross check from the concerned nodal officer about the status of air quality monitoring system whether these are going to be installed or not." However the automatic air quality monitoring system is installed in Punjab Agricultural University where a few months back due to ongoing construction activities of elevated road project the air quality was not up to the mark and due to poor quality MC had to suffer a lot and funds under NCAP were also denied. This year there was slight improvement in the air quality and grant was also allocated to the officials who are now busy in preparing plans for various works to be done in the coming months. MSID:: 124763193 413 |