People who have visited Guwahati for the first time have always fallen in love with its serenity – be it the mighty Brahmaputra, the greenery surrounding us or the simple way of living. All of these have always acted as a catalyst for people falling in love with the city.
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But over the years, the green stretches have turned grey as they lie covered with dust and cement particles. Guwahati, a city cozily nestled between the hills suddenly finds itself in a predicament as the Air Quality Index (AQI) of the city gets worse than that of Delhi, which has been infamous for pollution.
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As per the Central Pollution Board, the AQI level of Delhi from the first week of March till yesterday has been at a steady 200 and below, ranging from 123 – 200, but Guwahati on the other hand doesn’t have a population like Delhi nor the industrial area recorded AQI ranging from 166 – 240.
In the past week, Guwahati has been grappling with a severe decline in air quality, courtesy of relentless dust storms and soaring temperatures. The situation seems dire, with little hope for immediate respite. Shockingly, as of March 14, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Guwahati plunged to a dismal 204, firmly placing it in the 'poor' category. Disturbingly, this trend of deterioration has persisted throughout March, painting a bleak picture for the city's residents.
Although the current dust situation in Guwahati can be attributed to the seasonal nuisance, it's turning into a full-blown crisis due to several factors. Striking a balance between developmental projects and the health and well-being of the city's inhabitants is the need of the hour, and we all need to own up to the responsibility for the present state of affairs. The reckless tree-cutting spree to make way for these projects has only aggravated an already dire situation. It's high time to prioritize environmental concerns over short-term gains.
The rampant construction frenzy in Guwahati is wrecking havoc on our health, and the situation is reaching a boiling point. Take B Borooah Road, for example – it's become a nightmare to navigate. The construction work there has turned the entire stretch into a suffocating mess. Dust clouds are so thick one could mistake them for fog engulfing the road, making it nearly impossible for drivers to see what's ahead.
It's undeniable that development projects like road and footpath repairs are crucial for our city's infrastructure. Working on these projects during the dry season makes sense, considering the difficulties posed by the monsoon. However, it's vital to recognize the impact these construction works have on the community.
March is already a dusty month in Guwahati, exacerbated by dust from the Brahmaputra banks and construction materials strewn across the roads. There are simple solutions available to alleviate this issue. Regular sprinkling of water on the streets or construction sites can significantly reduce dust levels.
One of the most important measures that we need is to use Construction mesh PVC to cover the construction areas and the materials lying around in the open. This safety net is used as a covering to prevent any construction material from falling outside the site and causing any damage. Also, they reduce the dust coming out of the construction site.
This dust problem has aggravated respiratory breathing problems among the masses, especially for the ones who have to be out on the road in the open for most of the day – be it a construction labourer, a traffic official, street vendors, and many more. They are the ones who are bearing the brunt of these developmental problems. Asthma, COPD, pneumoconiosis and other respiratory problems. Can you imagine feeling suffocated while you are in an open area, unable to breathe clean air, that’s what people are facing every day in the streets of Guwahati.
Guwahati's charm is fading amidst the cloud of dust and pollution that now shrouds the city. What was once a haven of serenity and simplicity has unfortunately transformed into a landscape marred by construction debris and hazy and foul air. It's disheartening to witness the neglect of environmental well-being in favour of non-environmentally friendly development.
(The author is the IGP (Admin & STF), Assam. All views and opinions expressed in the article are the author’s own)