Mornings in Guwahati are now marked by a thick layer of smog, with sunlight struggling to break through the smoky haze. The air feels dense and heavy, a reminder of the deteriorating conditions in the gateway to the northeast.
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Talking to GPlus, a resident of Zoo Road said, “The dumping ground in Arunachal Path, which belongs to the Railways, is a major issue. Garbage there burns continuously, releasing dangerous smoke that blankets our area and poses serious health risks.”
A recent campaign by environmental research organisation iFOREST, titled Smog Tales: Know Your City and What You Breathe, has brought this issue to the forefront. The factsheet they released has laid bare the harsh realities of Guwahati’s deteriorating air quality and its grave implications for public health.
iFOREST’s Findings
A factsheet released by iFOREST paints a grim picture of air pollution in Guwahati:
• High Levels of Particulate Matter:
• PM2.5 levels in 2023 averaged 61.2 µg/m³, exceeding the permissible limit by 53%.
• PM10 levels averaged 121.4 µg/m³, double the safe threshold.
• Winter months recorded a 78% increase in PM2.5 concentrations, with December emerging as the most polluted month.
• Peak Pollution Hours:
• Morning (8-10 AM) and evening (6-11 PM) hours experienced the highest levels of PM2.5.
• NO2 concentrations peaked during evening hours (7-9 PM), while ozone concentrations were found to be highest during the afternoon (12-2 PM).
• Major Polluted Areas:
• The Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International (LGBI) Airport recorded the highest PM10 levels at 146.2 µg/m³, more than twice the permissible limit.
• Other hotspots include Pan Bazar and IIT Guwahati, which registered PM2.5 concentrations significantly above acceptable levels.
• Seasonal Trends and Sources:
• A PM2.5/PM10 ratio of around 0.5 indicates a dominance of fine particulate matter.
• Particulate matter spikes during winter, while ozone levels peak in summer.
The city’s geographical layout exacerbates the pollution problem.
In the discussion, Pratima Singh, Director of Air Pollution and Waste Management at iFOREST, explained, “The valley-like geography of Guwahati traps pollutants from vehicles, construction, and road dust, making the city more vulnerable to air pollution.” She added, “Breathing in Guwahati is equivalent to consuming over three cigarettes per day, or 102 cigarettes a month, according to Berkeley Earth.”
The Assam Pollution Control Board (PCB) has taken steps to address the pollution crisis. Shantanu Dutta, Member Secretary of the PCB, highlighted some of these measures:
• “Road dust is a major source of pollution. We are implementing dust mitigation efforts and have pushed industries to monitor their pollution generation.”
• “Construction companies are being held accountable for the dust they generate, and compliance is being enforced.”
Transportation is one of the biggest contributors to air pollution in Guwahati. Arshel Akhter, Bicycle Mayor of Guwahati and founder of the PURVCA Foundation, pointed out, “Vehicular emissions are a major issue, but we also need to consider granular sources like the wear and tear of tires.”
He added, “While the government has introduced 200 electric buses, the impact will only be felt if over 400 diesel buses are phased out or converted to CNG. Additionally, the lack of cycling lanes and footpaths has hindered the adoption of sustainable transportation practices.” Akhter’s foundation is engaging with students and citizens to promote cycling, but he lamented that cycling is often viewed as recreational rather than a viable mode of transportation.
Banashree Sarma, a consultant with the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in Guwahati, discussed the ongoing source apportionment study by IIT Guwahati. “The study’s first draft identifies key polluting sources and activities in the city,” she said. She also noted that the municipal corporation has pinpointed dust emission hotspots and is working to mitigate these emissions with the support of urban local bodies (ULBs) and state departments.
Sarma emphasised the need for collaboration across departments, including the Public Works Department (PWD), to ensure construction sites adhere to dust mitigation measures. “Increasing LPG penetration and reducing open dust emissions are other focus areas,” she added.
Talking to GPlus, Pramod Kalita, environmental activist shared data to underline the gravity of the situation. “On December 3, in Railway Colony, the Air Quality Index (AQI) was 246, which falls in the ‘poor’ category,” he said. Such figures highlight the urgent need for collective action and stricter enforcement of pollution control measures.
As winter tightens its grip on Guwahati, the air quality continues to decline, threatening the health and well-being of its residents. The iFOREST report, coupled with insights from local experts and activists, paints a stark picture of a city in crisis. Immediate and sustained action is required to prevent further deterioration and ensure a healthier future for all.
