Friday, Nov 15, 2002
Friday, Nov 15, 2002 |
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Kerala
By G. Krishnakumar
The study has found that the ambient air quality in the commercial and industrial areas of Ernakulam district and all stations monitored in different districts including Pathanamthitta and Thrissur was poor. The draft final report is under the Centre's consideration. The GKR comprises of Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Idukki, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Thrissur, Palakkad and Kollam. A total area of 14,017 square kilometres was covered by the study. The green belt programme has been envisaged as a two-way process. This includes pollution control near the source as to attenuate the concentration of pollutants and regulation near the receptor for mitigating pollution exposure of sensitive receptors. Reduction in industrial and vehicular emissions, organised and controlled refuse burning wherever applicable and plantation of trees are some of the major recommendations made by the investigating agencies which carried out the study. High levels of nitrogen dioxide and ammonia were also found in commercial and industrial areas of Ernakulam. The emission load from Kalamassery, Udyogmandal, Aluva, Kottayam, Cherthala, was found to be high. The study has recommended introduction of additional emission control devices to reduce emission from various processes in industrial units. As many as 65 industrial units in Ernakulam have been listed in the category of `major air polluting industries in GKR'. Majority of these units are located in areas like Aluva, Paravur, Kunnathunadu, Kanayanoor, Moovattupuzha, Kalamassery, Vadavucode and Kakanad. In the transportation sector, all major transportation corridors, particularly in urban areas, have been listed in the critical zone category. The study has suggested evolving a land-use plan evaluation, cleaner technology and fuel gas treatment for reducing air pollution by vehicles. An estimated 1.6 lakhs two-wheeler users were found in the greater Kochi region resulting in high emissions of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon. Strict adherence to vehicular emission standards, use of good quality fuel and proper traffic management are some of the other technological and management suggestions forwarded by the investigating agencies involved in the study. The study has also recommended plantation of trees along heavy traffic avenues and along major industrial estates in the region. Plant species suitable for pollution control should be selected after conducting scientific studies. The species selected should be indigenous, fast growing and self-rejuvenating, the study says. The season-wise air quality index in Ernakulam and Kottayam districts was found relatively poor between 1993 and 1999. Residential and commercial areas in Ernakulam, Irumpanam, Eloor, Kottayam and Chingavanam areas have recorded poor air quality rates during summer and post-monsoon seasons. The study areas in Kalamassery and Kodanadu were found to have less assimilative capacity as compared to other districts due to lesser wind speeds. The assimilative capacity study in Ernakulam found that majority of industries in greater Kochi region were located in Ernakulam. The study has recommended that the location of industries should be uniformly distributed in the region for maintaining uniform quality of air. It would be better to locate the industries in the southern part of the region for ensuring uniform level distribution of emission.
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