KOZHIKODE: The Kerala Pollution Control Board has installed a state-of-the-art air pollution checking system on the roof-top of the old bus stand building at Palayam. The 'continuous ambient air quality monitoring system' notified under the national ambient air quality standards is the third such system to be set up in the state after Kochi (Eloor) and Thiruvananthapuram. Its operations will commence after its formal inauguration which is yet to be fixed.
The system worth Rs 1 crore will work on nine parameters, including checking the quantity of ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), sulphur dioxide (SO2), volatile organic compounds (VOC), hydrogen sulphide (H2S),non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC), carbon dioxide (CO2), particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5), noise and meteorological parameters such as rainfall, temperature, humidity, pressure, wind speed and direction.
"It will track the real time value of air pollution and will display it on a wide screen for public to create awareness on air pollution," said KPCB chairman K. Sajeevan. The system aims at effective management of ambient air quality and will reduce the damaging effects of air pollution. It can be monitored from the KPCB regional office in Kozhikode. It was scheduled to be installed in the last financial year, but there was delay in exporting the machinery. According to KPCB chief environment engineer, C.V. Jayashree, the board is contemplating to give the maintenance work to private contract agencies. A full-time supervisor will also be appointed, she added.
