Greenery on the surrounding hills and the mighty Brahmaputra flowing by Guwahati no longer tell the real story of air quality in this Gateway to India’s northeast. Rather, they conceal the story of how the rapidly rising vehicles and other forms of urbanisation have made Assam’s capital city gasping for clean air.

Data released by the Pollution Control Board, Assam (PCBA) reveal that the average Air Quality Index (AQI) of Guwahati for half of the months of the year remains in the “moderate” category that points towards breathing discomfort of the city residents and visitors particularly the children, older adults and those with lung and heart disease. (See Table below for details).

However, the average AQI for the month of January this year as well as in last year for the monitoring station at PCB, Assam, Head Office at Bamunimaidam was found to be “very poor” when the number of pollutants monitored in this station was increased to seven against three pollutants monitored in other five monitoring stations of the city.

The Board defines AQI to be “a tool for effective communication of air quality status to people in terms, which are easy to understand. It transforms complex air quality data of various pollutants into a single number (index value), nomenclature and color.”

AQI is classified into six levels of indicators: good, satisfactory, moderate, poor, very poor and severe. AQI in the range of 0-50 is considered “good” with “minimal impact”. The range 51-100 is considered “satisfactory” which causes “minor discomfort” to sensitive people. For AQI in the range 101-200, air quality is considered to be of “moderate” level which causes “breathing discomfort” for people, especially for those with lung as well as heart disease, children and older adults. AQI in the range 201-300 is considered “poor” and causes breathing discomfort for all. When it is in the range 301-400, the AQI is considered “very poor” and causes respiratory illness on prolonged exposure. AQI above 400 indicates a “severe situation” and causes respiratory effects even in healthy people.

Monthly average AQI value for the city is calculated by taking into account the weekly average data from six air quality monitoring stations located at PCB Head office, Bamunimaidam, Khanapara, Boragaon, Industrial Training Institute, Gopinath Nagar, Gauhati University and Pragjyotish College, Santipur area. Except the station at PCB Head Office, other five stations are monitoring only three of the 12 pollutants in air identified by the Central Pollution Control Board under its National Air Quality Monitoring Programme.

Table: Monthly average of AQI of Guwahati City from July, 2015 to April, 2019

(Source: Pollution Control Board, Assam)

The Table shows that since 2016 the average AQI of Guwahati remained “moderate” for at least six months of the year- January, February, march, April, November and December. In 2015, average AQI was “satisfactory” even in November and December that include the winter season.

Data released by PCB also reveals that AQI value for monitoring station at PCB Head Office was 322 in January, 2018 and 314 in January this year. AQI for this station in February this year as well as last year was 250.

However, high AQI for the monitoring station at PCB Head Office indicate that the average AQI for the entire city might reveal altogether a different story on air quality of Guwahati if the number of pollutants monitored is increased or all the pollutants identified by CPCB for NAPM are monitored at all the six stations.

Among different sections of people in the city traffic police personnel on duty at traffic points, roadside traders and vendors remain exposed to vehicular emissions for prolonged period and the rising AQI levels

"Air pollution is increasing day by day and I think constables are aware about these situation and the consequences of air pollution. Because people are watching television, have access to internet so I think they know the consequences. I can't talk about all but I believe that most are aware. There is no special scheme or health facility from Government for traffic police. About mask, so some uses it while some are not interested to use mask. Traffic is rapidly increasing day by day. We are working in this hazardous condition. It is a stressful job, but it is our duty and we have to serve the people. Because we are public servants," says Prashanta Saikia, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Guwahati Traffic.

Dr. Jaideep Baruah, Senior Scientific Officer & Head (in-charge) Environment Division, Assam Science Technology and Environment Council and Dr Amrit Lal Saha, a pediatrician based in the city have sounded the alarm bell and stressed on the need for urgent measures before it is too late. Both of them insist on cutting down emission levels and adopting other scientific measures to keep the air quality of the city clean and healthy.

Happy Das

(Happy Das is a student of M.A. ( 3rd Semester) at the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, Tezpur University. She has produced this story as part of her Summer Internship at NEZINE )