Lucknow admin asks CPCB to submit report on pollution levels

In the wake of media reports claiming alarming pollution levels in the state capital, the district administration today sought a detailed report from Central Pollution Control Board within next three days, saying that the data being cited was giving an "incorrect" picture.
"The data on which the issue has been highlighted (by media) was questioned from UP Pollution Control Board, Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (IITR) and the methodology and calculations adopted by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) as the data given doesn't represents the true and correct picture," District Magistrate Rajshekhar said after a meeting held to discuss the reasons as well as corrective and preventive measures to be taken on this regard.

"The district administration has requested the CPCB, Lucknow office to submit a detailed report in next three days on the data and reportings in various media so that a correct picture can be presented and preventive and corrective measures can be taken," the DM said.
As per the analysis cited by the media, data of Particulate Matter 10 (PM10) was nearly similar but the levels are high when compared to general standards, he said.
Officials from IITR said as per the present levels, the state capital (as per data from Aliganj locality) falls in the category of "moderate" air pollution levels.

The DM said a major source of air pollution in the city

as of now is vehicular movement.
As per the recent reports of Road Transport Office (RTO), there are nearly 20 lakh vehicles plying on roads currently.
"There is a provision for regular pollution check of vehicles and more than 130 authorised agents are doing these checks and issuing certificates.
"RTO has been directed to ensure that regular checking of pollution (once in six months) is carried out and the testing is done in a proper and scientific manner," the DM said.
Other measures discussed in the meeting included checking adulteration in petrol and diesel, if any, proper defined routes and locations for taxis and autos so that air quality is ensured at major traffic points.

Building materials was found to be another major cause of pollution during the meeting. "The many ongoing construction works are also a major source of particulate matters and preventive measures have to be taken by LDA and Nagar Nigam to ensure the timely and speedy completion of works and safe handling of cement and sand materials," he said.
Nagar Nigam has been strictly instructed to bring out good mechanism to stop open burning of waste, he added.
Preventive and corrective measures like good public transport system, car pooling, switching of engine at traffic signal points, use of cycles, more plantation, less use of fire crackers, installation of 'large scrubbers' at important public places and LED display board for correct and factual information sharing on air quality data at important public places were also discussed.

No official from CPCB was present at the meeting. CPCB zonal officer Pradeep Mishra did not attend calls of either district administration officials or of the media.
"We have written to CPCB zonal officer seeking his explanation on reports saying Lucknow is the most polluted city," DM Rajshekar said.
Principal Secretary (Environment) Sanjeev Saran when asked on the issue said that state government was taking measures to check vehicular and building pollution.
"We have initiated efforts in this regard. We are also trying to sort out whether measurement of pollution by CPCB and IITR as per standards," he said.