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A graph showing the concentration of RSPM in Dimapur’s air, from 2011 to 2017, shows an increasing trend over the years with the highest level of 141 mpcm in 2017 against the permissible limit of 60 mpcm (indicated by a red line). ( - Source NPCB)[/caption]
Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, Sep. 7: Air pollution in Dimapur is reported to be at its highest level since 2011, according to a survey conducted on respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) by the Nagaland Pollution Control Board (NPCB). Deplorable road conditions have been cited for the heightened pollution level.
According to the annual report, RSPM was found to contain 140 microgram per cubic metres (mpcm) in 2017, which was 80 mpcm higher than the permissible level and the highest since 2011.
Rusovil John, NPCB member secretary and state nodal officer for green corps programme, said this while sharing his concern on environmental hazards Dimapur is going through at BizHorn, a management fest organised by the department of management studies, Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India (ICFAI) University.
John spoke to Eastern Mirror exclusively and raised health concerns for the citizens of Dimapur as most roads were filled with dust. “Each dust particle is smaller than 10 microns and inhaling it will go straight to the lungs,” he said adding that blacktopping from end to end would help.
“The badly maintained roads and innumerable potholes contribute a lot to the deteriorating environment in Dimapur,” John said.
“Vehicles passing through the roads give rise to clouds of dust engulfing passers-by and nearby buildings, residences and trees,” he said adding that the situation worsens during winter and dry seasons when the concentration of RSPM in the air increases significantly resulting in respiratory diseases.
He informed that the NPCB has two permanent stations to check the air quality. “We put filter papers in the machine and weigh it before all the dust particles are retained. After the procedure the weight is re-measured in the laboratory,” he informed about the process.
In other environmental concerns relating to Dimapur, John stressed on how the citizens hold mass social work in terms of cleaning the town but ‘litter the streets’ the next day.
“This concept has to change,” he encouraged the students of ICFAI. Other major concerns about Dimapur included checking of vehicular emissions, burning of waste, pollution from small-scale industries and construction and demolition activities.
From waste management and drainage to civic amenities, urban deforestation and many other factors such as begging and quacks setting up shop and posing as practitioners are a menace to the city, according to John.
While acknowledging that people in authority were responsible for decision-making, John said citizens should also be aware of their actions and act responsibly. “It is time that we start to be aware of the consequences of our actions and join hands to make Dimapur a better place to live in,” he shared.
The two-day fest at ICFAI was held on the theme ‘learning, enriching, leading.’