Coal, firewood make winter air most polluted in Kashmir

Burning of bio-fuels like firewood and fossil fuels like coal besides emissions from vehicles are the major pollutants in Kashmir during winter months, a study has found.

 “Winter Burst of Pristine Kashmir Valley Air,” the study by Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, and University of Kashmir, has found that burning of coal contributed about 156 tonnes of Particulate Matter 2.5 of the total emission of 163.62 tonnes of PM 2.5.

   

Vehicles are the second major pollutants, contributing about 7.5 tonnes of PM 2.5. The next is firewood (0.12 tonnes of PM 2.5 per month).

The winter months (November to February) in the period between May 2013 and April 2014 recorded 348 microgram per cubic meter emissions against the national permissible limit of 60 microgram per cubic meter. 

Particulate Matter 2.5 are extremely fine particles that pose health risk at high levels and prolonged exposure.

The study has found that on certain days, air quality in Srinagar during winters was worst than Delhi, one of the most polluted cities in the world. 

The researchers have suggested that the protracted dry weather in the Valley currently could worsen the air quality because good snowfall or rainfall can wash out Particulate Matter from time to time. Therefore, pollutants were high during this winter.

Shakil Romshoo, head of earth sciences at the University of Kashmir, who was also a part of the study, told Greater Kashmir that though the data in the study is a few years old, it is still relevant given the conditions at present. 

“We have been monitoring air quality in Kashmir from 2011 onwards and there has definitely been a rise in pollutants. But more or less it is safe except in dry conditions,” said Romshoo.

Leading pulmonologist Dr Naveed Nazir said a decrease in humidity, cold temperature and rise in pollutants worsen the condition of the patients suffering from asthma, bronchial asthma or allergic disorders. 

“A rise in particulate matter during winter aggravates the condition of these patients. Even normal persons have an increased chance of developing upper or lower respiratory tract infections during winter months,” he said.

EMISSION LEVELS DURING WINTER MONTHS IN KASHMIR

Coal emissions: 156 tonnes of PM 2.5 per month

Vehicular transport emissions: 7.5 tonnes of PM 2.5 per month

Fire wood emissions: 0.12 ton of PM 2.5 per month

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

one × 4 =