Lockdown effect: Pollution levels drop 40% during March to April

Panjim: The pollution levels in Goa saw a drop by almost 42% during the nationwide-lockdown period- March to April, mainly owing to no industrial activities, reduced on-road traffic and a pause on construction activities.   

The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) in its report on the impact of lockdown on Ambient Air Quality has said that compared to the April 2019; the pollution level declined by 50% for residential and commercial areas, 48% in industrial areas and 23% in the mining belts in April 2020. 

The major sectors contributing to air pollution across India including Goa are transport, industries, construction activities and residential activities.

GSPCB has installed ambient station across 18 locations in the State namely Panjim, Mapusa, Baina, Vasco, Margao, Ponda, Assonora, Bicholim, Honda, Usgao, Sanguem, Codli, Tilnmol, Cuncolim, Kundaim and Tuem as well as an Ambient Air Quality Monitoring (AAQM) station at MPT. 

GSPCB stations were put into operations from April 1, 2020 and AAQM station were operated from April 16 onwards in order to do a comparative study, the data generated from these 18 stations before and within the lockdown period is compared.

“The ambient Air Quality during the lockdown has shown significant improvement in the State of Goa as is indicated by the data from the NAMP (National Air Quality Monitoring Programme) stations, which may be attributed to very low vehicular density and industrial activities prevailing during lock down period,” the Board said.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) has improved at almost all stations except Panjim. Maximum improvement has been observed at Baina with 58% decrease, which could be attributed to reduction in the vehicular traffic and re-suspension of road dust.

“Average AQI at Mapusa, Baina, Ponda, Margao, Assonora, Amona, Sanguem, Kundaim, Tuem for the lockdown period is “good”, which was “Satisfactory” during pre lockdown period, with significant decrease in the AQI ranging from 19% in Mapusa to 58%  in Baina,” the Board informed.  

Average AQI for Residential/Commercial areas ( Panjim/ Mapusa/ Ponda/ Baina/ Vasco/ Ponda/ Margao ) showed 29% reduction while for Mining Areas ( Assonora/ Amona/ Bicholim/ Honda/ Usgao/ Codli/ Sanguem/ Tilamol ) it was 23%. 

A 30% reduction in pollution was noted along the Industrial areas ( Cuncolim/ Kundaim/ Tuem/ MPT). 

“In terms of PMIO and PM2.5 also, Baina has notices very high reduction of around 60% in the concentration for both PMIO and PM2.5 due to lockdown,” the board added.