PANJIM: There’s not a breath of fresh air in Goa’s major urban areas. Data published in the Goa State Pollution Control Board‘s (GSPCB) annual report 2017-18 indicates that almost every town in the State is facing serious air quality problems.
GSPCB on Tuesday released its annual report on World Environment Day focusing on the ambient air quality in towns and industrial zones.
As per the ambient air quality monitoring data installed at various locations, the parameters PM10 (particulate matter of 10 microns diametre) and PM2.5 are high above the permissible limit in Vasco, Ponda, Panjim, Mapusa and Margao.
Vasco town, which has the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT), topped the chart of residential and commercial areas that reported high levels of air pollution last year. In this town PM10, which needs to be at 40pg/m3 was found to be more than double at 82.8pg/m3. Similarly, PM2.5 was at 81pg/m3 that is above the permissible limit of 50pg/m3.
Ponda stood second where too, PM10 was nearly double the permissible limit at 78.8pg/m3 while PM2.5 was within the permissible limit. Ponda was followed by Panjim (75.2pg/m3), Mapusa (73pg/m3) and Margao (68.7pg/m3) of PM10.
“The data indicates that the levels of SO2, NO2 and PM2.5 are within the permissible limit, whereas the PM10 exceeding the permissible limit at the Panjim, Vasco, Mapusa, Margao and Ponda,” the report stated.
The high level of air pollution is reportedly due to increasing vehicular movement. Besides, Mormugao Port Trust (MPT), which remained in the news for violations of various environmental norms through its coal handling facilities, continued to be the most polluted zone in Goa for the second consecutive year. Vasco-MPT was also the most polluted area in 2016-17.
In the MPT area, PM10, which needs to be 40pg/m3 was as high as 129.7pg/m3. Similarly, PM2.5 stood at 86pg/m3 that is above the permissible limit of 50pg/m3.
Interestingly, particulate matter was found to be more or less consistently high in MPT area with highest AAQM (air ambient quality monitoring) levels.
The parameters are moderately polluted almost every month. The total amount of coal and coke handled by JSW, Adani and MPT was approximately 10 million metric tonnes per year. “However, current data indicated that production of Jindal has exceeded,” the report stated.
The Board in January 2018 had suspended the Consent to Operate granted to MPT for its coal handling facility operated by Jindal South West Port Ltd (SWPL) for handling coal beyond the permissible limit. A criminal complaint has also been filed against MPT and SWPL before Vasco JMFC for violation of environmental norms.
The Board has initiated a Source Apportionment Study through Indian Institute of Technology (IIT).
