Context: The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) recently released data shedding light on air pollution levels across urban centers in India during February 2024.
Surprisingly, Meghalaya’s Byrnihat emerged as the most polluted ‘city’ in the nation, sparking concerns about air quality in the otherwise cleaner Northeast region.

About Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA)

• CREA is a non-profit think tank researching energy and air pollution based in Helsinki (Finland).

• It was established in 2019 with the goal of tracking the impacts of air pollution by providing data-backed research products.

Key highlights

• Byrnihat’s monthly average PM2.5 concentration was 183 µg/m3, surpassing Bihar’s Araria, the second-most polluted city, by around 60 µg/m3.

• Other northeastern cities, including Nalbari, Agartala, Guwahati, and Nagaon, featured among the 30 most polluted cities in India.

• Six out of 11 cities with air quality monitoring stations in the northeast exceeded the prescribed daily National Ambient Air Quality Standard.

• Sivasagar, Silchar, Aizawl, and Imphal were the cleanest northeastern cities, with concentrations below the NAAQS, while Sivasagar ranked as the second cleanest city in India.

• The data underscore the urgent need for enhanced air quality monitoring in the northeast due to rising pollution attributed to unregulated industrial activities and insufficient pollution control measures.

Issue of air pollution in India

Reasons

• Vehicle Emissions: Growing number of vehicles, especially older models, release pollutants like NOx and PM2.5.

• Industrial Activity: Industries, particularly coal-fired power plants, contribute significantly to sulfur oxides and particulate matter.

• Crop Burning: Stubble burning by farmers after harvest releases large amounts of smoke and ash.

• Construction Dust: Uncontrolled dust from construction sites adds to particulate matter in the air.

• Waste Burning: Open burning of municipal and agricultural waste releases harmful toxins.

Key Suggestions

• Stricter Emission Norms: Implement and enforce stricter emission standards for vehicles and industries.

• Public Transport Boost: Promote public transport systems and electric vehicles to reduce dependence on private vehicles.

• Sustainable Farming Practices: Encourage farmers to adopt stubble mulching or composting practices to avoid burning.

• Dust Control Measures: Implement effective dust control measures at construction sites.

• Waste Management: Promote waste segregation, composting, and recycling to reduce open burning.

• Air Quality Monitoring: Expand air quality monitoring networks and provide real-time data for public awareness.

Implications and Recommendations

• Monitoring Imperative: The data underscores the urgent need to enhance air quality monitoring infrastructure in the northeastern states to effectively track pollution levels.

• Environmental Concerns: Unregulated industrial operations, inadequate public transportation, rampant construction, and other factors contribute to the deteriorating air quality in the region, necessitating stringent regulatory measures.