‘Air Quality In Kashmir Has remained Good To Satisfactory’
Srinagar- Over twenty days after a top Pulmonologist flagged concern over air pollution and attributed around 10 thousands deaths every year in Jammu and Kashmir to it, the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC) on Monday said that the air quality in Kashmir has remained “satisfactory”.
Talking to Kashmir Observer, Rafi Ahmad Bhat, Regional Director, JKPCC said that values coming from the continuous Ambient Air Quality Index (AQI) monitoring stations in Srinagar are “good to satisfactory” from the past few months, even in the winter.
Director Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Dr Parvaiz Koul had said that every year around 10 thousand deaths are attributed to particulate matter 2.5 (PM 2.5) exposure and there is need to control it by countering it.
“Air quality index in Kashmir is gradually going into a poor category, especially during winters and in the past few days AQI has gone from moderate to severe and there is a need to intervene now,” he had added.
He had said that the permissible limit for particulate matter (PM10) is 60 while the permissible limit for PM2.5 is 40.
However, the data from JKPCC, a copy of which lies with Kashmir Observer, reveals that PM10 in the month of June has remained 75.18, 59.53 in July, 43.08 in August and 47.48 in September.
Similarly, PM2.5 in the month of June has remained 19.11, 15.53 in July, 18.67 in August and 21.26 in September.
Bhat said they aren’t aware about the model that SKIMS has used while attributing the deaths to air pollution.
“We don’t know on what basis they are claiming this. They haven’t shared any data with us. We even don’t know what methodology they have applied to collect the data,” Bhat said, adding that “It’s their (SKIMS) clinical study. Until or unless, we don’t sit across and see on what basis they are claiming this, nothing can be said,”
Bhat further said that there are a number of factors that lead to lung disease.
“We can’t attribute every death to air pollution,” he said.
He, however admitted that the air quality in the valley during winters remains low because of increase in pollution and certain activities vis-a-vis constructions.
“Look at the constructions under Smart city in Srinagar, besides emissions from vehicles. Burning of biofuels like firewood and fossil fuels like coal. People are using hammams etc.This will definitely contribute to the pollution,” he added.
An official from the JKPCC said that the air quality in Kashmir during winters remains 120-150 while the permissible limit is 80-100.
“The AQI remained moderate. It hasn’t gone to severe. The recent rainfall has decreased the pollutants. Currently the PM10 is 50-60 while the permissible limit for PM2.5 is 20-30,” said the official ,wishing not to be named.
He further said that air quality in Kashmir remains good in summers and poor in winters.
Earlier, there were several studies conducted that revealed Srinagar city has the highest concentration of particulate matter in air compared to other Himalayan areas.
According to IQAir website, the PM2.5 concentration in Srinagar is currently 9.2 times the WHO annual air quality guideline value.
It says that the air-quality is “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” while the main pollutant is PM2.5
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