Karnataka: 22 districts to get air-quality monitoring stations

BENGALURU: With air quality deteriorating alarmingly not only in Bengaluru, but also other parts of Karnataka, the state government has sanctioned funds to install Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) in 22 of the 30 districts in the state.
The step has been taken to study and maintain data on air quality and initiate interventions whenever quality plummets.

In its order, the state government has sanctioned Rs 72.6 crore for installation of 32 CAAQMS in 22 districts. Eleven CAAQMS will be installed at Kalaburagi, Ballari, Chitradurga, Bagalkot and Koppal, with an investment of Rs 25.3 crore by the respective district mineral foundations (Zilla Khanija Pratishtana). Stations in the remaining 17 districts will be set up with Rs 48.3 crore from the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB).
According to the order, the stations should be operational within a year, said Balachandirama G Hunashal, under-secretary (environment and ecology). Officials said air quality monitoring is done manually in most parts of the state and the data obtained aren’t accurate. The proposal to set up CAAQMS was sent specially to find the effects of rampant mining, which leads to several breathing disorders and diseases. The stations will be set up in major mining areas of Ballari, Hospet, Sandur and Harapanahalli.
A comptroller and auditor general (CAG) of India report revealed that indiscriminate iron ore mining in Ballari district was leading to diseases like tuberculosis (TB) and other respiratory disorders among locals.
Steps have been taken to study suspended particulate matter (SPM) and respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) in different parts of the state and to analyse the sources which contribute to air pollution to come up with remedial measures to tackle the menace, said the order.
The proposal was made by KSPCB following an alarming dip in air quality across the state. Not just vehicles, construction debris, industries, burning of garbage, mining and unscientific discharge of chemical effluents are prime sources of air pollution across the state and it is seemingly increasing over the years, said the office of the principal secretary (environment and ecology).
POLLUTION TRACKERS
4 stations: Bengaluru city, Ballari district
3 stations: Kalaburagi
2 stations: Mysuru, Chitradurga
1 station: Bengaluru Rural, Ramanagara, Dharwad, Davanagere, Belagavi, Tumakuru, Vijayapura, Shivamogga, Dakshina Kannada, Mandya, Yadgir, Chamarajanagar, Bagalkot, Raichur, Hassan, Uttara Kannada and Koppal