NGT Bench issues notices over air pollution in Guwahati city

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Kolkata-based Eastern Zone Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued notices to the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC), the Central Pollution Control Board and the Government of Assam and asked to them respond with four weeks in connection with an application submitted by one Himangshu Nath regarding the poor quality of air in Guwahati city.

The notices were by the NGT Bench during hearing of the matter via video conferencing.

Nath has alleged in his application the city of Guwahati is one of the worst-polluted cities in the North-East and its Air Quality Index ('AQI') as on March 13 this year shot up to 310, while it was 308 two days later. The application submits that the causes for such high level of AQI are dust particles, bio-mass burning and vehicular pollution, leading to increase in PM2.5 and PM10 (Particulate Matter), thereby causing lung diseases, acute and chronic bronchitis, asthma attacks, respiratory problems etc. It further alleges that there are 48 lakhs vehicles in Assam as on July 12 this year, out of which 10 lakh vehicles have reached their 'end of life' stage, i.e., 15 or more years old, and are unfit to ply. It states that there are 8.42 lakh vehicles in Assam which are operating without PUC ('Pollution Under Control') certificates.

Moreover, the application mentions that construction of flyovers across Guwahati city – on RG Baruah (Zoo) Road, Maligaon-Kamakhya Road, Sarab Bhatti Road and six-lane work at Guwahati Bypass, are major contributor to dust pollution and no remedial steps are being taken to check and control the air pollution. Hearing of the matter will resume on October 18 next.

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