Panjim, one of least polluting cities in Goa (Herald)

June 9, 2014

 Panjim’s ambient air quality data shows PM10 to be 43.50 mpmc for the year 2013-14

 The data of Panjim city also reveals that the air pollution has decreased in last three years l Margao, Vasco, Ponda and Mapusa too have recorded low air pollution levels

 GSPCB says the pollution conditions in Goa are far better than the rest of India

 

SHWETA KAMAT

shweta@herald-goa.com

 

PANJIM: Even as nearly 8,000 vehicles enter and exit Panjim every day, leading to traffic chaos, it has surprisingly not led to rise in pollution level, which, on the contrary is showing a declining trend every year.  The Capital city is identified as one of the least polluting cities in Goa by the State pollution control board.

Moreover, not just Panjim, but all the major cities of Goa – Margao, Vasco, Ponda and Mapusa have recorded low air pollution level, despite the fact that nearly 70,000 vehicles get added to the State road traffic every year.

The ambient air quality data of Panjim city reveals that the air pollution in the city has decreased in last three years. The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has measured the pollution level for Panjim less than the permissible limit.

The permissible limit of respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) or (PM10) is 100 microgram per metric cube (mpmc), while in case of Panjim the ambient air quality data shows PM10 to be 43.50 mpmc for the year 2013-14. The level came down from 61 mpmc, which was recorded for the year 2012-13. In 2011-12, pollution level in Panjim was 79 mpmc and in 2010-11 it was 137 mpmc.

Suspended particulate matter (SPM) and respirable suspended particulate matter (PM10) are the pollutants, which carry toxic (including carcinogenic) trace substance, and enter into the respiratory system thereby irritating lung tissue and causing long-term disorders.

Speaking to HERALD, GSPCB Chairman Jose Manual Noronha said that the pollution levels are much lower than the permissible limits and they are declining every year, which is a positive sign. He said that the pollution conditions in Goa are far better than the rest of India.

“As the engines of vehicles are becoming more sophisticated, the levels of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide have declined and are much below the permissible limits. However, the levels of PM10 (RSPM) and PM2.5 (SPM) are low as the city 

does not have any hazardous industry; one of the major contributors to the air pollution are the old buses and diesel engine vehicles, which emit heavy emission particulate,” he explained.

The content of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is 7.85 mpmc and the sulphur dioxide is 5.02 mpmc. The State currently has over one lakh vehicles to a population of around 15 lakh.

The air pollution level in other cities is also under permissible limit – Vasco (44.48 mpmc), Ponda (49.91 mpmc), Margao (56.30 mpmc) and Mapusa (58.08 mpmc).

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