Kolkata: The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has instructed its departments to take specific actions in order to combat air pollution within the city. These measures include wetting the roads, ensuring that construction materials are adequately covered at building sites, and prohibiting the burning of waste.
The KMC’s commissioner recently issued a memorandum directed to the heads of the solid waste management and parks and squares departments, requesting them to regularly moisten the roads.
The note said, “In a bid to combat growing air pollution in the city this winter, the KMC authority has decided to use road washing machines and sprinklers to keep suspended particulate matter and dust in check.”
Sources within the municipal body revealed that the building department of the KMC has issued guidelines to property owners, architects, and engineers overseeing the construction of buildings under development.
These guidelines recommend the proper covering of sand and other construction materials, regular sprinkling of water over these materials, and the use of curtains or geo-textile fabrics to shield construction sites. The aim is to prevent the dispersion of dust from these sites and minimise environmental pollution.
Officials and engineers have a standing directive to ensure that waste collectors within the city refrain from incinerating dry waste.
On Wednesday, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Ballygunge recorded a value of 276, while it stood at 268 in Bidhannagar, 214 in Jadavpur, and 238 at the Victoria Memorial. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) designates an AQI range between 201 and 300 as “poor,” and it can lead to “breathing discomfort to most people on prolonged exposure,” according to the CPCB.
