AIR POLLUTION TODAY:
The level of air pollution in cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, and many more are very high. The number of vehicles on the roads in such major cities on a daily basis is tremendous. This results in the increasing pollution level in the cities.
India has noticed a reduction in the pollution level in such places due to the lockdown implemented because of covid-19. Major sources of air pollution are emissions from vehicles and local industries. But, because of the lockdown, there is a rapid reduction in the number of vehicles running on the roads. The factories have been shut for some time now, which resulted in the decreased air pollution.
AIR POLLUTION IN CHENNAI-
In Chennai, the root cause for the increase in air pollution is industrial emission. According to A.V. Venkatachalam, the Chairman of Tamil Nadu state pollution control board, vehicular emissions contribute to 27% of the total air pollution in Chennai.
Since the industries and factories were closed during the lockdown and there were very few vehicles seen on the roads, this resulted in a massive decrease in the air pollution in Chennai.
AIR QUALITY INDEX-
Air Quality Index (AQI) is used for checking air quality. AQI tells us how clean or unclean the air in a particular region or country is, how it affects the health of people and more related topics.
The Air Quality Index at Alandur and Velachery Central Pollution Control Board stated the Index to be 47 and 73.
- An Air Quality Index below 50 is considered good.
- While 50-100 is considered satisfactory. The Air Quality Index from 101-200 is considered moderate.
- The Air Quality Index from 201-300 is very poor and causes breathing difficulties for the people.
IMPROVEMENT IN THE AIR QUALITY DUE TO THE LOCKDOWN-
The strict implementations of the covid-19 protocols have caused a huge change in the Air Quality Index not only in Chennai but in the rest of the country as well. The people also commented that the air now is much more pure and healthy after the lockdown was enforced in the country.
A housewife at Anna Nagar (East) while speaking to IANS said, “I am an asthma patient and can easily understand the difference in air quality. After the lockdown was implemented and vehicles stopped plying, the quality of air has improved and people like us can understand it as we feel it.”
- The improvement in the air quality during the lockdown teaches a very important lesson to the people. This caused the people to be more cautious and thoughtful towards our environment.
- Reduction in pollution creates a safe and healthy environment not only for humans but also the animals and birds.
A decrease in pollution, in turn, decreases diseases that are caused and multiplied due to the polluted air.
