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Assam HDR 2014: Pollution time bomb ticking for Guwahati
It’s not just New Delhi. Assam’s capital city Guwahati is also sitting on a ticking pollution time bomb. Assam Human Development Report 2014 has revealed that air pollution and breathing problem have emerged as major problems in the state and 51 per cent of households in Kamrup ( Metropolitan) district have reported air-quality problems. The report states that altogether 21.2 per cent households in the state have reported experiencing air pollution in their localities.
“the rising number of registered vehicles in the state in the past decade can be one of the prime causes, ” the report states. In addition to rising number of vehicles, rising number of registered industries along with population density and congestions could also explain the situation, it adds.
District-wise indicators of Air Pollution (percantage of households reporting)
| DISTRICT | Facing Air Pollution |
| BAKSA | 13.1 |
| BARPETA | 3.2 |
| BONGAIGAON | 18.2 |
| CACHAR | 25.4 |
| CHIRANG | 27.9 |
| DARRANG | 1.9 |
| DHEMAJI | 17 |
| DHUBRI | 14.2 |
| DIBRUGARH | 3.3 |
| DIMA HASAO | 2.2 |
| GOALPARA | 47.2 |
| GOLAGHAT | 26.9 |
| HAILAKANDI | 21.5 |
| JORHAT | 6.3 |
| KAMRUP | 22.5 |
| KAMRUP(M) | 50.7 |
| KARBI ANGLONG | 27.8 |
| KARIMGANJ | 7.8 |
| KOKRAJHAR | 23.2 |
| LAKHIMPUR | 7 |
| MARIGAON | 35.1 |
| NAGAON | 35.5 |
| NALBARI | 42.3 |
| SIBSAGAR | 28.2 |
| SONITPUR | 11.8 |
| TINSUKIA | 20.8 |
| UDALGURI | 18.8 |
The HDR Survey data also show that about 6.5 per cent households in the state reported experiencing breathing problem. Marigaon district leads the list with 33.2 per cent followed by Kamrup ( Metropolitan) district with 20.7 per cent, Hailakandi (19.9 per cent), Udalguri ( 14.9 per cent) and Bongaigaon ( 14.1 per cent). “The concentration of motor vehicles and industries could explain the problems in Kamrup Metro, Hailakandi and Bongaigaon districts, but explanations could be different for Udalguri ( highly deforested) and Marigaon ( flood affected ) districts.
“For instances, significant congestion of registered vehicles can be seen in Kamrup Metro district (130 per 100 people as on 2011, the next district is Sibsagar with 40 vehicles per 100 people)”- it says.
District-wise indicators of water problem (percentage of households reporting)
| District | Problem in Water |
| BAKSA | 41.6 |
| BARPETA | 78.5 |
| BONGAIGAON | 44.4 |
| CACHAR | 40.4 |
| CHIRANG | 29.2 |
| DARRANG | 42.6 |
| DHEMAJI | 64.3 |
| DHUBRI | 35.3 |
| DIBRUGARH | 31.3 |
| DIMA HASAO | 6.3 |
| GOALPARA | 8.9 |
| GOLAGHAT | 31.7 |
| HAILAKANDI | 55.5 |
| JORHAT | 45.2 |
| KAMRUP | 39.8 |
| KAMRUP(M) | 40.6 |
| KARBI ANGLONG | 64.3 |
| KARIMGANJ | 43 |
| KOKRAJHAR | 2.9 |
| LAKHIMPUR | 36.1 |
| MARIGAON | 60.4 |
| NAGAON | 54.5 |
| NALBARI | 65.7 |
| SIBSAGAR | 53.3 |
| SONITPUR | 36.5 |
| TINSUKIA | 35.3 |
| UDALGURI | 42.6 |
About the water quality, the HDR 2014 states that a huge 78.5 per cent families in Barpeta district, 65.7 per cent families in Nalbari district, 64.3 per cent families in Dhemaji and Karbi Anglong distrits and 60 per cent families in Marigaon dostricts have reported problem of water.
Altogether 33.7 per cent households in the state reported problems of excess iron and 8.8 Per cent households reported turbidity in their water sources. Iron problem is acute in Barpeta district ( 77 per cent) followed by Nalbari (63.5 per cent). Turbidity of water is prominent Barak valley districts with Cachar accounting for 22.3 per cent, Hailakandi ( 46.4 per cent) and Karimganj (24 per cent).
The Assam HDR Survey, 2013 covered 39,998 households covering 187,511 individuals in 27 districts, 97 Blocks, 95 urban centres, 1972 villages of the state.
nezine.com Editorial Bureau
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