C-NES report on Air Pollution released

Sanjoy Hazarika speaking to journalists at the press conference on air pollution at Guwahati Press Club on October 22. At right is Ms. Keteki Bardalai, Executive Director, Foundation of Social Transformation.

The temperatures in the premier North Eastern cities of Guwahati and Shillong have increased by several degrees Celsius in the past years while air pollution caused largely by vehicular emissions and dust has harmed the health of a large section of the population, especially young scholl chidlren, daily labourers and traffic policement.

A detailed report by C-NES on the pollution levels surveyed in several major hubs of Guwahati and Shillong was released today at the Guwahati Press Club at a crowded press conference. Hightyeneing several points, C-NES managing Trustee Sanjoy Hazarika said that apart from lax imlenetation of pollution control laws, the problem was aggravated by the lack of responsibilitiy among city residents. For example, the surveys turned up the fact that 70 percent of all vehicle owners in Gwuahati do not get their vehicles tested either on a regular basis or at all.

“These are basic human rights, just as much as there are political rights — the right to clean air and clean water,” said Mr. Hazarika in the course of an energetic discussion with journalists. “But there is also a questino of personal responsibility and choice, which we need to make correctly every day instead of blaming the govenment or one department blaming another.”

A detailed power point presentation was made by Bhaskar Saud, who led the research in the programme, which was funded by the Foundation for Social Transformation.

“We believe that this is just the surface of the issue and we would like to conduct similar surveys in all major urban centres and capitals of states in the NER,” Mr. Hazarika declared.

Findings of the study on“Impact of air pollution in specific areas of Guwahati and Shillong on vulnerable groups i.e. (school children, laborers, rickshaw pullers and traffic police, petrol station workers and roadside vendors)” conducted by Centre for North East Studies and Policy Research (C-NES)

Funded by- Foundation for Social Transformation (FST)

Background: Guwahati and Shillong are North-east India’s most rapidly growing cities with a steady rising population. These cities are major business hubs for the entire region. The energy consumption (fossil fuel) has increased tremendously in the transportation sector with an increasing numbers of vehicles in the region. Guwahati ranks high in the pollution charts of the country competing with metros like Delhi and Kolkata. The air pollution in Guwahati has increased in recent years due to growth and congestion of traffic, poor quality of fuel, inefficient engines and bad maintenance of motor vehicles along with other urban activities like construction etc. There is a growing need for the public to gather greater information on local health effects associated with air pollution, specially the association between proximity to high volume motor vehicle traffic (and its associated emissions) and increased risk of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.

Objectives & Methodology: The objectives of the study were a) to evaluate the extent of pressures on health caused by vehicular pollution, b) to assess the difference in prioritization of health problems including stress as assessed by respondents, c) to look at possible changes to operating vehicular use and reducing fuel consumption, traffic congestion and exercising alternatives to improve the above, d) to conduct awareness drives with civil society organization (CSOs) on the impact of vehicular pollution on human health, leading to changes in vehicular use and thus reducing fuel costs, pollution and congestion.

The survey was conducted among 1000 individuals in the selected areas of Guwahati and shillong to review the occurrence of respiratory problems. The results of the study indicate that air pollution in Guwahati and Shillong is seriously affecting the health of the people, especially in Khanapara and Police Bazar which are most polluted by motor vehicular traffic. Eye diseases and acute respiratory illnesses correlate strongly with air pollution levels. Chronic diseases have a lower correlation than acute illnesses with air pollution in Guwahati and Shillong. There is thus a serious need to reduce traffic congestion in these two city’s commercial areas.

Findings: The survey indicates that higher rates of eye irritation and headaches exist among the respondents from the Khanapara area compared to other studied areas. Physical observation of the location shows that the area is very dusty due to construction work in. Some local residents also blamed the same factors for their suffering.

1. A majority of the respondents said they did not conduct a regular pollution check up of their vehicles, though this is a mandatory requirement. More than 70% of the vehicle running in Guwahati and Shillong do not have emission clearance certificate. Again it has also come into light that more of the emission testing centre are incompatible for advance engines like Bharat Stage – BS III and BS IV.

2. The Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) and Respirable Suspended Particulate matter (RSPM) levels in Bamunimaidam, Dispur/Khanapara, Gopinath Nagar, Shantipur areas in Guwahati city area are much above the National Ambient Air Quality standards. The Mean data for the year 2008 for RSPM are 150.95, 140.95, 103.23 and 96.29 μg/m3 for the above areas respectively while for 2009 the Mean data are 139.74, 104.21, 111.32 and 114.94 μg/m3 respectively. The Mean SPM data for the year 2008 are 232.60, 211, 162.87, 151.40 μg/m3 for the above areas respectively while for the year 2009 the Mean data are 256.64, 176.94, 196.95, 199.30 μg/m3 respectively ( Source- Statistical Handbook of Assam 2008 & 2009). The National Ambient Air quality standards for Residential areas are 140 μg/m3 for SPM and 60 μg/m3 for RSPM (Annual standards). Again the Mean RSPM data for Bamunimaidan for the period January, February, March, April, May and December 2008 are 169.66, 175.02, 147.74, 108.35, 115.90 and 180.75 respectively while that for SPM the Mean data are 260, 249.52, 234.67, 178.97, 196.70 and 262 respectively (Source – Annual report of Pollution Control Board of Assam- 2008-09)

3. The state of the crisis is to be seen from the following facts: Transport Department records show that there are 472,000 vehicles registered with DTO (Kamrup) till December 2009. The density is likely to double during the next five years. Moreover, a lot of vehicles from the nearby districts visit Guwahati everyday, adding to the chaotic traffic system. The numbers of city buses has also increased manifold during the last ten years from 400 to more than 2500 running buses under the roof of six different motor associations in Guwahati

4. The air temperature data for the last six years has been collected from the Indian Meteorological Station, Borjhar, Guwahati and Directorate of Agriculture, Shillong. From the collected data a rise in 7^o C in air temperature is seen in the Guwahati city within the last six years, whereas a rise of 10o C in air temperature has been seen in Shillong during the past five years.

The finding of the survey indicates that 45 %, 44.5 % and 40 % of the respondents in Khanapara indicated skin diseases, eye problems, and sneezing. 42.4 % of the respondents indicated about having cough problems in Adabari. 38.4% and 36.5% of the respondents indicated having eye problems from Adabari and Pan Bazar areas respectively. Bronchitis and Asthma were amongst the lesser health problems indicated by respondents. Khanapara recorded the highest percentage of the diseases indicated while Ganeshguri and Bamunimaidan areas were comparatively lesser in diseases reported by the respondents. Very few respondents have indicated running nose as a health problem in all the above areas.

The study shows that there is strong connection between eye and acute respiratory ailments, except runny nose, and the more congested and dusty areas. Chronic ailments like bronchitis, asthama and skin diseases, however, have a lower correlation with motor vehicular air pollutants. This is not surprising since longer term diseases are most likely influenced by other factors as well.

The respondents from Shillong described similar health problems due to air pollution. Respondents from Fire Brigade mentioned that the change in average atmospheric temperature for the last few years is caused by increased vehicular pollution which affects the general well being of the local residents. Wariki Kharkongor of Fire Brigade also mentioned that the increased air and dust pollution has also spoiled the natural beauty of the place known for its scenic beauty. In Fire Brigade and Police Bazar areas the findings from the responses indicate more cases of health problems compared to Malki point area. Cough and eye problems have been indicated as a health problem by 42.4 % and 38.4% respondents in Fire Brigade area while 30 % respondents in Police bazaar and 26% in Malki points have reported having eye problems and cough respectively. Bronchitis had a low occurance as in Guwahati while running nose was reported by only 5 % respondents in Police Bazar and Malki point areas.

The traffic policemen interviewed said that they mostly suffered from asthma and skin diseases like itching. Constant exposure to exhaust air from vehicles has affected their skin as well as heart and lungs. It is also found that traffic policemen are seldom supplied pollution safety masks during working hours. It is significant that those who use safety masks have procured it themselves.

Auto rickshaw drivers, rickshaw pullers and taxi drivers complained of suffering from sinusitis, sore throat and burning or red eyes. The same is found among petrol pump workers also.

Dust pollution is another important agent polluting Guwahati’s air, posing a grave health hazard threat to the citizens. The road dust, together with vehicular emissions, forms a toxic haze that hangs over the atmosphere for a prolonged period. Deforestation and earth-cutting in the city hills invariably results in erosion of loose earth from the hills. Rains wash down the topsoil and deposit it on the roads besides clogging the drains and once the water logging subsides, it leaves a deep layer of slush which ultimately turns into dust after a day or two and then spread everywhere by vehicular movement. Degradation of the city hills leading to accumulation of loose soil on the roads following rain, the boom in construction activities and the failure to maintain the norms aimed at checking dust pollution, growing vehicular movement and emission, have combined to worsen the dust pollution in Guwahati.

The transport sector in Guwahati and Shillong has been developing with population growth and rapid urbanization. The study indicates that Khanapara has the highest traffic intensity of 80 vehicles per minute followed by Ganeshguri, (65 vehicles per minute), Pan Bazar, (54 vehicles per minute), Adabari, (32 vehicles per minute), and Bamunimaidan (28 vehicles per minute). Likewise in Shillong, Malki Point has the highest traffic intensity of 90 vehicles per minute followed by Police Bazar, (75 vehicles per minute) and Fire Brigade (70 vehicles per minute). It is also observed that the most congested hours are from morning 9.30 am to 11.00 am and evening 5.00 pm to 6.30 pm. in all the studied location. However in Khanapara the traffic congestion is seen through out the day, as it is the entrance to the city from Upper Assam and other North Eastern states as well as the route of departure for these destinations. Extreme congestion on the roads of the city with a total area of 216 square kms, with drivers trying to rush to their destinations, results in a rise in accident rates, fuel wastage and environmental pollution.

Recommendations:

• Enforce traffic laws strictly.

• Develop Mass Awareness on the effect of vehicular pollution and on traffic awareness by enlisting media assistance, cooperation and highlighting as well as extensive training of vehicle owners, taxi services, transporters and government officials and political leaders at different levels

• Popularizing the use of Public transport system to travel to work places (a culture of commuters).

• Taking early action to develop instrumental and manpower competence for carrying out vehicular pollution monitoring by various state boards.

• Regular vehicular emission tests by the owners to check the air pollution and their enforcement.

• Policy intervention on alternative transit route for the city and multi-storeyed parking places to check traffic congestion caused due by illegal parking.

• Proper city bus stops in city roads so that traffic congestion behind such stops is minimized even if it cannot be stopped.

• Devising a cheap gadget by technologists for fixing on the existing vehicles so that here is no pollution by these vehicles beyond the permissible levels.

• Up gradation of equipments of emission testing centre to be compatible with the advanced engines like Bharat Stage III and BS IV.

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