In a decisive move to combat dangerously high air pollution, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has ordered the immediate sealing of hotels, dhabas, and other establishments using charcoal or wood-fired chullahs. This action comes as the capital city's Air Quality Index (AQI) has been intermittently shooting beyond hazardous levels, with traditional cooking methods identified as a primary contributor.
Immediate Crackdown on Pollution Sources
The BMC advisory, issued on Monday, mandates strict action for the closure of establishments using solid fuels like charcoal or wood, except for religious institutions where such practices are part of tradition. The sealing of cooking areas in hotels, dhabas, kalyan mandaps, and picnic spots is to be carried out with immediate effect. This decision was taken after monitoring revealed that these chullahs generate fine particulate matter (PM 2.5), which causes severe pulmonary complications.
On Monday, the AQI in Bhubaneswar dropped marginally but still settled at a 'poor' level of 266. Officials highlighted that the problem is particularly acute in areas with high vehicular congestion, markets, and ongoing construction work, which further elevate PM2.5 concentrations in the ambient air.
Multi-Agency Measures to Clean the Air
The civic body has rolled out a series of directives targeting various pollution sources across the city. Deputy Commissioner N Ganesh Babu outlined the comprehensive plan:
- The Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT), which operates Ama Bus services, has been advised to use water sprinklers regularly at depots. Frequent bus movement kicks up dust that stays suspended in the air, causing suffocation in nearby areas.
- Block education officers have been instructed to use clean fuel for preparing mid-day meals in schools.
- Picnic spots will be inspected to prevent picnickers from using wood as fuel.
- The Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO) has been asked to improve the condition of roads under its control and take steps to reduce dust generation.
- The BMC itself will strengthen enforcement of construction and demolition waste rules, as the transportation and stacking of such materials are significant dust generators.
Health Risks and Winter Forecast
Doctors have explained the severe health implications of the prevailing pollution. While larger particles (PM10) can be filtered by natural barriers in the nasal cavity, the finer PM2.5 particles can travel deep into the lungs and become deposited, leading to moderate to severe pulmonary issues, including chronic respiratory diseases.
Senior environmental scientist at the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB), Niranjan Mallick, provided a forecast, noting that the AQI in Bhubaneswar often remains close to 300 during the peak of winter. However, he expressed optimism that over the next week, the index is expected to improve and move into the 'moderate' category, assuming the control measures are effective and meteorological conditions are favourable.
The BMC's aggressive stance underscores the growing urgency to address air quality in urban Odisha, prioritizing public health through direct action against identifiable local pollution sources.
