Problems
Factors responsible for severe air pollution in Raipur
Several factors are responsible for the acute air pollution in Raipur: toxic industrial waste, domestic waste, too many vehicles (rough estimates say the number of vehicles has doubled in the last two years), rapidly increasing constructions and fast growing population. Many sponge iron units have come up in the area and many others are in the process. It is estimated that approximately 10,000 tonnes coal is used by functional sponge iron units. Some small-scale industries, like nearly 50-60 brick kilns, are also mushrooming around Raipur. A study by ngm says most of these kilns operate as Bull Trench Kilns and don't follow the norms of Fixed Chimney methods. Their wastes cause rspm content to exceed the permissible limit by over four-five per cent.
Consequences of inhaling the poor quality air of Raipur.
The people of Chhattisgarh are losing three and a half years of their lives due to air pollution. This was revealed in a new analysis of the Air Quality Life Index prepared by Epic, a research institution at the University of Chicago, USA. According to data, the people of Raipur could live 4.9 years longer if the World Health Organisation guidelines were achieved. Meeting the same air quality standard in 1998 would have increased life expectancy by 2.2 years.
Gallery
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Timelines
2022
Air quality in Raipur: Air pollution level - Unhealthy Air quality index - 159* US AQI Main pollutant - PM2.5 PM2.5 concentration in Raipur is currently 14 times the WHO annual air quality guideline value * AQI modeled using satellite data
2021
At the beginning of 2021. Raipur was experiencing a period of “Unhealthy” air according to figures suggested by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The PM2.5 concentration level was 60.2 µg/m³.
2005
The Central Pollution Control Board (cpcb) recently declared Chhattisgarh's capital Raipur as the country's most polluted city. SPM in Raipur's air is 250 micrograms per cubic meter (g/m3) (standard is fixed at 200 g/m3) while the concentration of dust particles is 350 parts per million (ppm) ( fixed limit is 200 ppm) . The respirable particles are 230 ppm , much more than the standard of 100 ppm. It is believed that the presence of respirable suspended particulate matter (rspm) is also three-four per cent higher than the acceptable limit. Air pollution caused by their contaminants affects an area of up to 10 square kilometers (sq km) during winters and monsoons and 25-30 sq km during summers.