-SATISH HANDA
According to State Pollution Control Board, during current month April Air Quality Index (AQI) in most of the town in Haryana state witnessed drop as compared to previous two years in month April, except those situated in NCR where situation was observed alarming needing to control pollution. AQI was recorded as 219 at Faridabad, 210 at Gurugram, 230 at Sonepat and 286 at Manesar.
However, the quality of air in the atmosphere of as many as nine towns in the state was found safe where AQI was recorded 92 at Karnal, 98 at Panchkula, 99 at Sirsa, 135 at Kurukshetra, and Palwal, 150 at Hisar 152 at Kaithal, 164 at Yamunanagar and 172 at Rohtak. In case of three towns in Haryana state where AQI was recorded as 198 at Faridabad, 190 at Jind and 221 at Panipat identified on danger point and need special care. Haryana Agriculture Minister JP Dalal made an appeal to farmers in the state not to burn crop residue which not only spread pollution in the atmosphere but also spoil agricluture land.
According to Dr V.K. Garg, Dean Pollution Department in Central University Bhatinda, there are many reasons for drop in pollution, which fluctuates in the atmosphere due to frequent change in temperature, polluted particles in air fail to spread higher in the atmosphere and one of the major cause burning crops residue during wheat and paddy crop harvesting seasons. Polluted small particles ranging between 2.5 and 60 PM microgram each square meter area hanging in the atmosphere are very harmful and its level should remain below 100 PM, These small size particles contain highly polluted sulphate, nitrate and black carbon contents being very small usually are not visible in the air and can be find out with the help of Electron Microscope. Fumes while burning crop residues are extremely harmful for health causing respiratory problem, burning sensation in eyes, cough, hair fall, skin allergy, high blood pressure and if a persons remain in such polluted atmosphere for a longer time may suffers from asthma, weak immune system, ENT disorders, heart attack and even blood cancer.
According to World Quality Report 2020 released by a Swiss organization IQ Air on November 12, 2020 Yamunanagar in Haryana state was identified at 26th highly polluted city in world when quality of air in the town was recorded as 404 microgram per cubic square meter area extremely harmful for health. Some of prominent reasons for excess pollution at industrial town Yamnanagar were observed as smoke coming out from chimneys as well as diesel generating sets in the industrial town, automobile smoke, dust in the atmosphere, burning garbage in open and releasing waste water from industries in open, drains flowing inside the town and in Yamuna river flowing in the town, Dr Kuldeep Singh CMO Ambala said, smoke coming from chimneys of large number of industries including sugar mill, paper mill and large number of foundries in the town is very harmful containing poisonous gases like carbon monoxide, , sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and potassium oxide.
