Kolkata needs regional airshed to address AQI deteriorations during winter: Study
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olkata needs a “regional airshed” to address the burning of sharp deteriorations in Air Quality Index (AQUI), especially during the winter season, according to the latest study report titled ‘Designating Airsheds in India for Urban and Regional Air Quality Management’ published in MDPI’s Air journal.
The study has recommended dividing India into 15 regional airsheds, each tailored to the specific climatic and pollution patterns of its region. It argues that regional airshed management could help Kolkata mitigate external sources of pollution and achieve cleaner, healthier air for its residents. An airshed is a geographic area where air pollution is measured and managed as a whole. It recognizes that air pollution does not stop at city or state borders, and pollutants can travel across regions, necessitating effective pollution management involving cooperation between cities, states, and even neighboring countries.
According to the lead author of the study, Dr. Sarath Guttikunda, Kolkata can gain considerable benefits from managing pollution within its immediate surroundings, such as implementing policies to curb vehicular pollution. This approach is reciprocal with what is happening in the entire Indo-Gangetic Plain area. “Coordinated management across Kolkata and other key areas in the IGP could create a positive feedback loop, enhancing air quality and health outcomes for the entire airshed,” Guttikunda added.
The study points out that Kolkata’s air quality worsens significantly during the winter months, driven by a combination of meteorological factors and pollution sources from both within and beyond the city limits, including vehicular pollution. Data from mid-January 2024 showed that the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Kolkata ranged from “unhealthy” to “very unhealthy" categories, posing a heightened health risk, particularly for vulnerable groups. This underscores the need for urgent measures to improve the city’s air quality.
The 15 proposed regional airsheds identified in the study include two for the Himalayas, four for Gangetic Plains, four for plateaus, one for arid or desert areas, three for coastal plains, and one for the islands.
✔️ Kolkata needs regional airshed to address AQI deteriorations during winter: Study
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