SHILLONG: Take a deep breath. There is this news. Don’t gasp. Well, you can breathe in fresh air in the city, really, and all thanks to the coronavirus.
If you are thinking how the deadly germ can even give us a moment to breath, then think twice because the state pollution control board data says the quality of air the citizens are breathing in now has improved several times since the lockdown.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, state pollution control board chairman CP Marak said as far as Meghalaya is concerned, it has never reached the stage as that of Delhi which is termed as “poor and severe”.
“There has been a marked improvement in the air quality in Shillong. We have the official record of the city which showed the rating as good”, he said.
The air quality is categorised as good, satisfactory, moderate, poor, very poor and severe.
As per the analysis for the second week of April, the assessed areas in the city are categorised as good.
While there is a decrease in pollution level in areas of Lumpyngngad, Barik, 41/2 Mile, Upper Shillong and Polo in the second week of April, the assessment in the second week of March was different.
In March, the air quality in Barik was satisfactory while in April it was listed as good.
The air quality index (AQI) in the industrial areas at Umiam and Byrnihat has also improved though the record will be available only at a later stage as the staff could not carry out assessment due to the lockdown.
There is an improvement in the air quality in other parts of the state as well.
The first phase of the national lockdown started in the fourth week of March and continued till the third week of April.
Essential health service
The staff are working on 30 – 50 per cent attendance. However, Marak mentioned that the statutory duties of the board continue like the routine monitoring and surveillance. Air samples are collected once a week while water sampling is done on a monthly basis.
Marak informed that the NGT order dated April 21 this year on ‘Scientific disposal of biomedical waste arising out of COVID-19 treatment-compliance of BMW Rules, 2016’, has held that the task of the State and Central Pollution Control Boards is part of essential health services for COVID-19. In this connection, the state Chief Secretary MS Rao in a notification stated that the Governor has declared the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board, Shillong as an essential health service for management of COVID-19.
“Pollution aspect is taken into account while fighting the invisible enemy of COVID-19,” Marak said.
The Central Pollution Control Board has handed over guidelines for handling, treatment and disposal of waste generated during treatment/diagnosis/quarantine of COVID-19 patients.
As per the guidelines, the opening or operation of COVID-19 sample collection centers and laboratories should be reported to State Pollution Control Board.
AQI variations in city
Area March April
Lumpyngngad 41 24
Barik 51 47
4½ Mile 49 41
Polo 41 32