Two new PCB stations coming up In Hyd

• Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations to come up at Patancheru and Ramagundam
• PCB to setup server with real-time data available 24x7 at its headquarter in Sanathnagar

Recognising the urgency to monitor real-time and peak concentration levels of critical pollutants, the Telangana State Pollution Control Board (TSPCB) has decided to setup two more Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) at Patancheru and Ramagundam.

The new stations would begin operations in the next two months. Presently, CAAQMS are located at Sanathnagar, Punjagutta, Zoo Park, Pashamailaram IDA and Hyderabad Central University.P Raveendhar, senior environmental scientist, TSPCB said,

“The equipment is ready and would cost Rs 1 crore to set up each station. The operating cost per year would be about Rs 10 lakh.”“In addition, eight more monitoring stations to check PM 2.5 particles would be added in 2016,” he added.

Real-time monitoring of pollution levels is presently available at three locations; Punjagutta, Sanathnagar and Zoo Park, which can be accessed at www.cpcb.nic.in. The data is transmitted to the cpcb.nic server in Delhi.

However, the TSPCB would be setting up its own server at the headquarters in Sanathnagar within a month. Raveendhar shared, “The PCB already has 22 manual monitoring centres and once the server is set up it would make it easy to store and disseminate data.”

Hyderabad turning into a dust bowl
The officials at PCB warn that the city of pearls may soon turn into a city of dust. The PM 10 and PM 2.5 content have crossed permissible levels at various points. Poor roads, metro rail construction activity, vehicular congestion, burning of waste during foggy weather and increased construction activites are prime causes for increased dust.

The air pollution levels in the city have crossed the permissible limits of the standard 60 micro grams/cubic metre a long time back but, what is troubling to the people is that health problems have increased during winter.

When the temperatures are high, the pollution density lessens, which allows the pollutants to go higher up. However, in winter, it is the other way round and pollutants remain at the respirable level. The total suspended particulate matter in the city is close to 200 as against the standard 100 micro grams/cubic metre. The ammonia content has also crossed standard permissible limits. Paradise Circle, Punjagutta, Charminar, Kukatpally and Jeedimetla have the highest PM 10 content.

RTC runs only 130 CNG buses
The only way forward is to go for Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles aver environmentalists. The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) runs only 130 CNG buses and only 7,500 kg of CNG is used.

Experts are of view that the TSRTC could easily accommodate another 200 CNG buses. The lack of CNG filling stations in the twin cities is another matter of concern as there are just 17 CNG outlets for about 16,000 autos and 11,000 cars. The officials of Bhagyanagar Gas Limited (BGL) said that eight more CNG filling stations would be added to the city in 2016.