Hyderabad: The combustion of dried leaves, wood, and garbage in Sanathnagar has caused the particulate matter 2.5 levels to touch as high as 94 ug per cubic metre whereas the limit is 60 ug per cubic metre.
The burning is proving to be a major contributory factor, stated the Telangana Pollution Control Board senior officials. Usually, in the summers, the PM 2.5 levels reduce and are within the permissible limits.
A senior official on condition of anonymity explain-ed, “We have frequently witnessed the burning of dried leaves, garbage, and wood by the municipal wor-kers in Sanathnagar. Alth-ough the GHMC has been informed about it, this is continuing in the smaller lanes. Due to this, the air quality is not improving.”
Instant reading shows the level at 47 ug per cubic metre, which is also on the higher side. Additionally, Sanathnagar is a heavy vehicular traffic zone and hence its readings have always been high. The officials also explained that the presence of diesel generators, which are kept on due to current fluctuations, also leads to higher readings during the day time.
The control board’s real-time monitoring van which moves around Sanathn-agar has been taking hourly recordings and acc-ordingly an average for the day is drawn out. All the readings that have been recorded after March 5 have been high.
There are three other stations, i.e., the Zoo Park, the Central University, and the Icrisat, of which at the Zoo Park, the limits are 56 ug per cubic metre, and 30 ug per cubic metre at other two locations.
