DIMAPUR, March 12 � As Dimapur city continues to grow rapidly in random expansion, Nagaland Pollution Control Board (NPCB) has expressed serious concern about the status of air quality of Dimapur and its satellite towns which it revealed has already crossed the national standard permissible limit.
Though the air is clean during monsoon season when there is rain, during winter, air pollution goes up as per record of years of monitoring done by the NPCB in two stations of Dobhinala (code no 448) and Bank Colony (code no 317).
The air quality of Dimapur has been monitored on four air pollutants which include sulphur dioxide (SO2), oxides of nitrogen (NO2), suspended particulate matter (SPM) and respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM).
Based on the records, the average concentration of respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) was found to be highest in the month of December, in both the stations, the pollution control board reported.
According to graphs furnished by NPCB for the year 2010, average concentration of RSPM and SPM (24 hourly) shows a drastic climb above the permissible limit in air pollution from November till the month of March.
The NPCB while highlighting the above mentioned report said the main causes for the increase of particulate matter in the dry season is because of dust- from stone crushers, bad roads, constructions works etc., vehicular emissions, burning of wastes, construction and commercial activities.
On the effects of air pollution, the Board warned that long-term exposure to air pollutants will increase the risk of respiratory illnesses such as allergies, asthma, cold, cough, sinusitis, tonsilitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, etc.
Suggesting some mitigation measures to reduce the alarming rise of air pollution in Dimapur, the NPCB said no polluting industries should be allowed within the towns and villages while existing industries located within residential area should be closed or relocated to earmarked industrial areas.
