Latest news with #KalyanRudra
Time of India
3 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Kolkata beats other metros, reports more than 50% of good air days in 4 years: CSE study
KOLKATA: The city has taken the top spot with the best air quality among six key Indian metros, a study by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has revealed. Kolkata witnessed 791 days - over 50% of the total 1,550 days assessed - of 'very good' and 'satisfact-ory' air quality, highest among the metros. The findings, part of CSE's State of India's Environment in Figures 2025, analysed air quality data from Jan 1, 2021 to March 31, 2025. According to the study, Kolkata reported 368 days of 'very good' air and 423 days of 'satisfactory' air during this period. While only 231 days of 'moderate' air was recorded in the city, not a single day was reported in the 'severe' category. With fewer 'poor' and 'very poor' air quality days - 513 and 15 respectively - Kolkatans faced limited exposure to harmful pollution levels, which in turn meant better health, the analysis highlighted. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata Delhi remained the most polluted metro during the study period, with 396 'moderate', 265 'poor' and 62 'very poor' air quality days. Significantly, the national capital's 284 'severe' air days was in sharp contrast to Kolkata's nil, an indication of the former's prolonged hazardous pollution levels. "Kolkata's success story is a result of several key policy decisions by PCB and their effective implementation by the local bodies," said West Bengal Pollution Control Board chairman Kalyan Rudra. "Using sprinklers to prevent dust-resuspension, deploying fire tenders at landfills, biomining of garbage heaps, shifting to clean fuel, use of smokeless chullah by food vendors and urban and rural poor have all been crucial in improving the city's air quality," he added. Rudra, however, cautioned that significant challenges remained in reducing emissions further. ' Clean Air project helps Kol improve AQI management ' Anumita Roychowdhury, an air quality expert with CSE, said the Centre's National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) helped track pollution levels and undertake remedial measures. Under the NCAP monitoring and compliance system, cities report their progress on the Central Pollution Control Board's PRANA portal, every quarter, defining the scope of action, setting targets to reduce pollution and indicating funding. "The performance-linked NCAP framework helped lay the foundations of national air quality management in non-attainment cities, such as Kolkata," said Roychowdhury. Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai recorded a high number of 'poor' AQI days, but dodged 'very poor' or 'severe' days, owing to their locations, weather and pollution sources. Air pollution in southern metros is primarily driven by vehicular emissions, dust and industrial activities. Mumbai presented a hybrid pattern. The city saw 145 'very good', 637 'satisfactory', 118 'moderate' and 649 'poor' AQI days. It largely stayed clear of 'very poor' and 'severe' levels, recording only one 'very poor' day and zero 'severe' days.
Time of India
3 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Reduce noise from bldg sites, residents urge PCB
Kolkata: Citizens of a residential locality in south Kolkata have written to the state pollution control board, urging it to regulate noise pollution from construction activities, similar to how it successfully controlled construction dust pollution. Among the suggestions provided is the installation of sound suppression barriers at construction sites. In a letter to the PCB chairman Kalyan Rudra, an office bearer of a residents' association at Hindustan Park, a residential neighbourhood near Gariahat that has acquired a commercial character over the past three decades, pointed out that constant high-decibel noise generated at construction sites in the locality is an assault on the senses. Chartered accountant Nina Ghosh, who lives at Hindustan Park, said the use of jackhammers to cut through concrete or the hammering of piling sheets led to severe noise pollution from early morning till late in the evening. "It appears as though our homes have also become construction sites," she said. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata In the letter, Pradeep Kakkar, president of Eleven Hindustan Park Owners' Association and founder of environment action group PUBLIC, said the issue was not only related to Hindustan Park but several other residential areas in the city and urged PCB to address the issue. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Resmed AirSense 11 with flat 20% off ResMed Buy Now Undo Citing the success that PCB achieved in tackling dust pollution by using dust suppressants, covering materials, and regular water spraying, Kakkar said the PCB should work out similar measures to stop noise pollution. While acknowledging that construction activity involving grinding, cutting, polishing, and drilling requires heavy-duty/high-speed machines that produce high-decibel noise far in excess of the permissible limit for residential areas, he suggested using multiple measures to contain the noise and avoid disturbing residents. "There can be reasonable restrictions on timings for construction activities that generate loud noise. Sound mufflers can be used around machines that generate loud noise to prevent the spread of noise," explained Kakkar. PCB chairman Kalyan Rudra, while terming the suggestions constructive, said it would require research and development by an academic institution or institute. "There are specific norms on noise in residential areas. We impose them, but it is for the civic body and police to enforce them. We have given police decibel meters to check infringements and take necessary action."
Time of India
5 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Residents urge pollution board to regulate construction noise in Kolkata
KOLKATA: Citizens of a residential locality in south Kolkata have written to the state pollution control board, urging it to regulate noise pollution from construction activities, similar to how it successfully controlled construction dust pollution. Among the suggestions provided is the installation of sound suppression barriers at construction sites. In a letter to the PCB chairman Kalyan Rudra, an office bearer of a residents' association at Hindustan Park, a residential neighbourhood near Gariahat that has acquired a commercial character over the past three decades, pointed out that constant high-decibel noise generated at construction sites in the locality is an assault on the senses. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata Chartered Accountant Nina Ghosh, who lives in Hindustan Park, said the use of jackhammers to cut through concrete or the hammering of piling sheets led to severe noise pollution from early morning till late in the evening. "It appears as though our homes have also become construction sites. The noise permeates through the walls, making even conversation challenging," she recounted. In the letter, Pradeep Kakkar, President of Eleven Hindustan Park Owners Association and founder of the environment action group People United for Better Living in Calcutta (PUBLIC), said the issue was not only related to Hindustan Park but several other residential areas in the city and urged the pollution watchdog to address the issue. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Brothers showcase turmeric and its golden status in Macanese cuisine MGTO Undo Citing the success that PCB achieved in tackling dust pollution by using dust suppressants, covering materials, and regular water spraying, Kakkar said the PCB should work out similar measures to stop noise pollution. While acknowledging that construction activity involving grinding, cutting, polishing, and drilling requires heavy-duty/high-speed machines that produce high-decibel noise far in excess of the permissible limit for residential areas, he suggested using multiple measures to contain the noise and avoid disturbing residents. "There can be reasonable restrictions on timings for construction activities that generate loud noise. Sound mufflers can be used around machines that generate loud noise to prevent the spread of noise. Buffer shields or noise cutters can be installed around the construction site to contain the noise within it," explained Kakkar, who said the issue was relevant not only to Hindustan Park residents but also to those living in other neighbourhoods across Kolkata where old homes were constantly demolished to construct new ones. PCB Chairman Kalyan Rudra, while terming the suggestions constructive, said it would require research and development by an academic institution or institute. "There are specific guidelines on noise in residential areas. We impose the guidelines, but it is for the civic body and police to enforce them. We have given police decibel meters to check infringements and take necessary action. We have already made the transport of construction waste to recycling plants mandatory," he pointed out. Kakkar earlier wrote to Municipal Commissioner Dhaval Jain, pointing out that despite houses in Hindustan Park and other localities in south Kolkata being among the highest taxed under the Unit Area Assessment formula citing better infrastructure, the absence of any monitoring and enforcement of construction activities has resulted in these areas becoming almost unliveable. Sound Pollution Norms Area Categories and Noise Limits (dB(A) Leq): - Silence Zone: 50 (day), 40 (night). - Residential Area: 55 (day), 45 (night). - Commercial Area: 65 (day), 55 (night). - Industrial Area: 75 (day), 70 (night). Suggestions to reduce construction noise - Use of mufflers around machines like jackhammers to contain noise. - Use of sound cutters around construction sites to prevent noise from spreading. - Limit construction activity to daytime with a break in the afternoon to give relief to local residents. - Check noise levels with decibel meters and take penal action for repeat violations.
Time of India
22-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
PCB identifies air pollution hotspots in Kol and beyond
Kolkata: Drawing from long-term data collected through its extensive sensor-based and automatic real-time air quality monitoring network, the West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) identified several air pollution hotspots across the state. These findings, based on annual average concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 recorded in 2024-25, highlight areas where pollution levels persistently exceeded the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). With over 250 ambient air quality monitoring stations installed, now covering all 23 districts of West Bengal, the WBPCB has a robust data map to detect pollution trends, particularly during winter months when air quality typically deteriorates. The annual averages show several areas, including Kolkata and other urban centres, breaching the NAAQS thresholds of 60 µg/m³ for PM10 and 40 µg/m³ for PM2.5. Not surprisingly, Kolkata emerged as the biggest pollution hotspot, driven by multiple contributing factors: high vehicular emissions, thermal power-related pollution, road dust resuspension due to dense traffic, emissions from kitchens — especially among urban poor households lacking access to clean cooking fuel — and open biomass burning, often from landfill sites. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo Apart from the six non-attainment cities — Kolkata, Howrah, Haldia, Asansol, Durgapur, and Barrackpore — WBPCB identified several new pollution hotspots, many of them in rural West Bengal. "Many of these new hotspots are emerging in rural areas. We believe there is a qualitative difference in the toxicity of pollutants between urban and rural regions," said Kalyan Rudra, WBPCB chairman adding, "To understand this 'toxicity divide,' we are collaborating with Bengaluru-based think tank CTEP. " In many cases, pollution stems from sources beyond state boundaries. Raniganj, for instance, continues to suffer from coal mine fires that persisted for over 50 years. A similar long-standing fire at the adjacent Jharia coalfield in neighbouring Jharkhand is exacerbating the air quality in both Raniganj and Asansol, indicating the need for inter-state cooperation to address such transboundary pollution. Biomass burning remains a significant source of pollution. According to WBPCB's records for 2024–25, 26,748 cases of open biomass burning (OBB) were identified across West Bengal With clear identification of hotspots, the WBPCB plans to implement targeted, ground-level interventions to reduce pollutant levels in these critical areas and bring them in line with national standards. These efforts include pollution source mitigation, better enforcement, public awareness, and inter-agency collaboration—essential steps to ensure cleaner air for the people of West Bengal.
Time of India
05-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Pollutants order changes post Covid pandemic: Cooking, industry emissions on PM2.5 rogue list
1 2 3 4 Kolkata: On the occasion of World Environment Day, the West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) released a comprehensive report revealing how Kolkata's air pollution sources had significantly shifted in the years following Covid-19 pandemic. The analysis, drawing on two landmark studies — NEERI's pre-pandemic source apportionment study (2019) and TERI's recent post-pandemic study (2025) — shows a perceptible change in sectoral contribution to two key pollutants: PM10 and PM2.5. Significantly, only these two pollutants breach the national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS). Earlier, releasing the report, Bengal environment minister Chandrima Bhattacharya, WBPCB chairman Kalyan Rudra, additional chief secretary of the environment department Roshni Sen, former VC of Bengal Engineering and Science University (BESU) Ajay Roy, and WBPCB member secretary J P Meena emphasised how plastic pollution plays havoc with our lives and biodiversity. WBPCB chairman Kalyan Rudra declared an award for students for collecting and responsible disposal of plastic wastes through its network of 5,000-plus schools in Bengal. According to the findings, coarse particulate matter (PM10) in the city saw a decrease in dust-related emissions, from a dominant 57.3% in 2019 to 43% in 2025, suggesting possible improvements in street cleaning and construction regulation. However, this was offset by rising contributions from household cooking (from 13.3% to 18%), industry (5.9% to 12%), and vehicular tailpipe emissions (8% to 13%). Notably, refuse burning and secondary sources, which were negligible in 2019, emerged as more prominent contributors in 2025. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which poses graver health risks due to its ability to penetrate deep into the lungs, now sees an increased contribution from industrial emissions (7% to 21%) and cooking (27.9% to 29%). Dust emissions halved (from 24.7% to 12%), while secondary aerosols — a complex mixture formed through chemical reactions involving vehicle, industrial, and power plant emissions — came into sharp focus, now accounting for 13% of PM2.5. This rise suggests a growing influence of chemical pollutants in the city's atmosphere. The report also notes that while policies such as the introduction of BSVI vehicles and the uptake of electric mobility helped reduce PM2.5 from tailpipes (23.5% to 20%), older vehicle fleets continue to be significant emitters of PM10.
