The air quality in Kashmir has been consistently deteriorating for the past three years, says the data compiled by the Jammu and Kashmir State Pollution Control Board (SPCB).
The data says Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM), also known as PM 10, and Fine Particulate Matter, aka, PM 2.5, are present in Kashmir air above permissible limits. PM 2.5 in high levels is a cause for concern as they reduce visibility.
The data collected from the four air monitoring stations at Srinagar, Khanmoh, Khrew and Lasjan show the level of RSPM has doubled during the past three years.
In 2015, RSPM level in Srinagar was 106.32. The permissible limit is 60 Ug/m3 (100 Ug/m3 for 24 hours). In 2016, RSPM was 75.30. In 2017, it went up to 82.26. Because of the flood in 2014, the air quality monitoring for district Srinagar was not carried out for eight months in the year 2015 because the equipment was damaged in the flood.
In Khonmoh, the RSPM level was 127.30 in 2015 120.96 in 2016 and 156.76 in 2017. In Khrew area of Pampore, the RSPM for the year 2015 was 93.10, 98.66 in 2016 and 137.36 in 2017. And in Lasjan area, people breathe the most polluted air. In 2015, the level was 196.11, in 2016 195.72 and in 2017 the level jumped to 322.60 respectively.
The PCB had started monitoring the level of PM 2.5 in the air from last year and the level of this air pollutant, which is hazardous for health also, too is showing an increasing trend.
The data of the five air quality monitoring stations – Rajbagh, Hyderpora, Boulevard (near Dalgate), Jehangir Chowk (near Secretariat), Soura (near SKIMS) – shows these tiny particulates are making the air quality worse.
The permissible limit of PM 2.5 for is 40 Ug/m3 and for 24 hours is 60 Ug/m3. But the samples collected since July last year show an increase of dust particles in the air.