Campaigns and awareness programmes about ill effects of bursting crackers during Deepawali seems to have paid off as air pollution during the festival has come down by 31.6 per cent compared to statistics recorded during 2012 Deepawali days.
Although respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) recorded more in six locations compared to national standard levels, on an average there has been reduction of 42.6 per cent.
At three areas in City including areas around Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health (IGICH) located near Nimhans campus, DTDC House on Victoria Road and Graphite India in Whitefield recorded high levels of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and RSPM.
Areas around Central Silk Board and Whitefield recorded highest RSPM levels at 134 µg/m3 followed by IGICH recording 127 µg/m3, Yeshwantpur 117µg/m3 , Peenya Industrial Area at 115 µg/m3 and Amco Batteries at Mysore Road recording 109 µg/m3. All these areas recorded RSPM higher than National Ambient Air Quality (NAAQ) standards which is 100 µg/m3.
However, pollution levels recorded on November 2,3 and 4 increased by 34 per cent more than a normal day. Sulphur dioxide increased by 47.3 per cent, nitrogen dioxide by 23 per cent and RSPM by 31.7 per cent.
KSPCB chairman Vaman Acharya cited numerous campaigns and awareness programmes as reason for decrease in air pollution levels. “The board had visited over 600 schools and over three lakh schoolchildren had pledged not to burst crackers during the festival. The children have stood by their words and have not broken their pledge,” he added.
Acharya said even people contributing towards Deepawali chit fund has been discontinued as the board spread awareness that it was not 'chiti' but cheating by chit fund companies.
Complete ban
On bringing a law on bursting firecrackers in public, Acharya favoured complete ban and said the government should enforce a law to burst crackers in open spaces and restrict people from bursting them in residential areas and narrow lanes in City. He said civil society members and public at large should come forward and approach the government to bring in a law on firecrackers. Sound pollution levels during the festival are yet to be analysed by KSPCB.