Of the five most ecologically sensitive cities in India, Dehradun is the most polluted. Such is the level of air pollution in Dehradun that the air quality here is worse than in the cities of NCR and other major cities like Mumbai and Bengaluru, said the founder of the think tank Gati Foundation, Anoop Nautiyal.
Nautiyal said that in reply to a question in the lok Sabha on December 15 last year, the Union Min of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Harsh Vardhan had stated that of five ecologically sensitive cities in India including Dehradun, Alwar, Agra, Firozabad and Mathura, Dehradun had the most polluted air. “The level of air pollution in Dehradun has doubled in the past six years and at this rate, the air here will not be breathable by 2022. We have measured the air pollution at 10 locations in Dehradun during a 10 day period. We measured the PM 2.5 (fine particulate matter) and PM 10 (particulate matter) using equipment which is 99 per cent accurate. Measurements were taken at Balliwala Chowk, Saharanpur Chowk, Doon Hospital, Rispana Bridge, ISBT, Raipur, Karnpur, Dilaram Chowk, Clock Tower and the Bindal Bridge. In 85 per cent of the readings, the PM 2.5 levels were beyond the permissible limit. The permissible limit for PM 10 is 100 but in 75 per cent of our readings it was between 100 and 200, 200 to 300 in nine readings, 300 to 400 in five readings and above 400 in two readings.”
Nautiyal further informed that air pollution levels are particularly high at ISBT and Saharanpur Chowk. At ISBT the PM 10 level has been measured up to 472 while the PM 2.5 has been measured up to 420. The PM 10 level has been measured up to 465 with the PM 2.5 levels being measured up to 374 at Saharanpur Chowk. He expressed concern at the central government not including Dehradun in the 100 cities listed across India where a campaign will be undertaken against pollution. The Gati Foundation will meet the union minister and demand Dehradun’s inclusion in the campaign. The foundation has suggested measures like conducting a study to ascertain major sources of air pollution in Dehradun, installation of continuous air monitoring stations, focus on public transport and non-motorised transport, a graded response action plan
