A blanket of smog covers Puducherry. Image used for representational purposes | Photo Credit: S.S. Kumar
The Puducherry government has formulated a Graded Emergency Response Action Plan (GERAP) to combat air pollution in the Union Territory (UT).
Though Puducherry is not listed as a non-attainment city — those that consistently fail to meet the National Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for PM10 (particulate matter that is 10 microns or less in diameter) or NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) — the action plan has been readied in compliance with the directive of the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
The annual average concentration of PM10 in Puducherry was in the range of 29-50 ug/m3 against the prescribed standard of 60 ug/m3.
‘Always better to improve’
“Though Puducherry is not on the list of non-attainment cities, it is always better to improve. We have readied the plan and sent it to the NGT. Once the NGT gives its comment, the government will be able to finetune the action plan and set timelines to initiate the exercise and put it up for implementation,” Secretary to Government, Department of Science, Technology and Environment, P. Jawahar, told The Hindu.
Mr. Jawahar added: “Notwithstanding this, most of the actionable points in the plan are those already under implementation or under process, such as the Transport Department’s initiative to have EV-based public transport. Basically, we are trying to mainstream our initiatives, and many aspirational things and small interventions have been included in the action plan that will improve the air quality in Puducherry.”
N. Ramesh, Member Secretary of Puducherry Pollution Control Committee (PPCC), said: “The action plan focuses on the mitigation of industrial emissions, vehicular emissions, construction and demolition activity, road dust, emissions from burning of agri-residues, and household emissions.”
“Though the Air Quality Index categories of Puducherry ranges from good to satisfactory, and on few occasions falls under moderate category, the GERAP will be implemented in case the air quality deteriorates under different AQI categories such as moderate to poor, very poor, and severe, as per the National Air Quality Index,” he added.
PPCC has categorised air quality into three stages (from ‘moderate’ to ‘severe’) based on the daily concentration of particulate matter pollutants PM2.5 and PM10.
Pollution control measures
In Puducherry, the pollution control measures range from strict enforcement and halting garbage burning in landfills; stringent enforcement of air pollution control regulations in industries; mechanised sweeping on roads with heavy traffic and water sprinkling on unpaved roads during ‘moderate to poor’ conditions; to restriction on use of diesel generator sets; compliance to emission norms by industries; reduction of non-point pollution emission sources such as handling of coal and transport of coal; stopping the use of coal/firewood in hotels and open eateries during ‘very poor’ category; strengthening of public transport services; and identification of the burning of solid waste and road stretches with high dust generation when pollution levels touch ‘severe’ classification.
These gradations, and the actions mandated under them, are uniform across the UT and will be implemented by the district administration and other line departments when air quality remains within a category for 48 hours.
The action plan includes three components, namely inventorisation of air pollution sources, sector-based air pollution controlled measures, and green belt for the abatement of air pollution.
Published – February 03, 2025 05:12 pm IST
