A forecast-based action plan to combat Kolkata’s ever increasing air pollution is the need of the hour, says experts

The model of ‘graded response action plan’ (GRAP), announced by the Bengal environment minister Manas Bhunia recently, to counter air pollution in Kolkata and five more polluted cities in the state has already been “scrapped” in Delhi where forecasting based GRAP model is presently followed; observed experts.

“The model of GRAP, that is imposed when certain pollution level is reached; is presently being scrapped in Delhi as there is no point in imposing norms when people have already been exposed to high level of air pollution; hence since July 2022 in national capital region (NCR) of Delhi only 3 day-forecasting based GRAP has been implemented” said Gufran Beig, programme director of System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) to The Plurals.

SAFAR is a national network of air quality and weather monitoring stations set up under Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, a government institute that is currently doing the forecasting for Delhi. “We are already doing air pollution forecasting in Felhi and other cities and are prepared to set up such a system in Calcutta if the state pollution control board and state environment department wants” added Beig.

Air pollution expert Anumita Roy Choudhury from Centre for Science and Environment also pointed out that a forecasting based GRAP is the need of the hour and referred the document – ‘policy to curb air pollution in the national capital region’ prepared by commission for air quality management in national capital region and adjoining areas; which has been set up by government of India – that mandates ‘proactively implement GRAP measures based on air quality forecasts, rather than retroactively implementing them once acceptable levels are breached’.

West Bengal presently has no air pollution forecasting system and the GRAP, that has recently been announced, is mainly a reiteration of existing norms; and hardly has any restrictive provisions unlike the Delhi GRAP. In Delhi that as the stage II – ‘very poor’ (AQI 301-400) – air quality is reached; actions like banning of diesel generator sets except for emergent and essential services; as well coal and firewood including in tandoors in hotels, restaurants, open eateries, are automatically rolled out.

“Yes, a forecasting based GRAP is important and we are also planning for at least a 3-day forecasting based GRAP model for Kolkata and are speaking with IIT Delhi and other expert agencies” stated WBPCB chairman Kalyan Rudra. As the government grapples with the mode of action plan they will follow; Kolkata’s air pollution has leapfrogged during the last week.

On Nov 21, 2022; the Air Quality Index (AQI) of Kolkata was 150, considered ‘moderate’; which rose to 241, poor, on Nov 27. The most toxic air pollutant – ultra fine particulate PM 2.5 – was the trigger behind the AQI leapfrog.

On Nov 28, all the 7 automatic monitoring points in the city have recorded ‘very poor’ AQI mostly during midnight and early morning; with the respective highest figures going beyond 300. Exposure to very poor air quality may trigger “respiratory illness on prolonged exposure”.