The air you breathe in the city may invite respiratory complications if the recent report of Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) is any indication. According to the board, the air quality here was found to be bad.
At present, the city is recording an alarming level of suspended particulate matter (SPM) in air. According to prescribed standard, the SPM shouldn't exceed 100 micro gram per metre cube, but samples taken by pollution board show SPM between 180 and 200 micro gram per metre cube.
"We take weekly data of ambient air quality from five places, where we have installed devices. By collating the data taken from five places in last one month, we found an increased SPM level in air," said OSPCB regional officer (Bhubaneswar) Hadibandhu Panigrahi.
He said unlike winter, the SPM in the air in summer is usually not found above the limit. "We need to find the reasons as to why the city is recording high SPM in summer. In winter, air quality remains continuously bad as the low temperature keeps the air particle at a low level," he said.
Panigrahi attributed vehicle pollution and construction activities to increasing SPM level in air. "Road and flyover expansion works and transportation of construction materials are perhaps responsible for higher SPM. However, a scientific study will help to find the other factors responsible for it," he added.
Capital Hospital director B B Patnaik said everyday about 30-40 adult patients and same number of children with respiratory disorders are coming to the hospital. "Bad air quality can cause tuberculosis, bronchitis and dry cough," said the director.
Senior environment scientist with OSPCB D K Behera said, "We have been asking the civic body, works department and National Highways Authority of India to sprinkle water on the roads on a regular basis. We are planning to install one more air quality reading device in the city."
-TNN | Apr 22, 2015
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