Air quality shows marked improvement in Sikkim

KUNAL RAI
GANGTOK: As Sikkim observed the second phase of 19-day lockdown to contain spread of Covid-19, the State’s Air Quality Index (AQI) showed a marked improvement in April against March, earlier this year.
According to AQI monitored by the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) in eight stations, the AQI is well within permissible limits and improvement observed after implementation of the lockdown on March 25.
As per the Deorali station, the AQI was 60 (Satisfactory) in the month of March whereas in April the record stated 21 (Good). Similar AQI has been recorded in all other stations across the State, SPCB member secretary Gopal Pradhan informed.
The AQI monitoring was done under the National Ambient Air Monitoring Programme and the permissible limit is as per the provisions of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
Air quality is categorized into various indices such as good, satisfactory, moderate, poor, very poor and severe.
The restriction in vehicular movement in addition to closure of all constructions activities is likely to have contributed to the current status, explained Pradhan.
According to the member secretary, the SPCB-Sikkim in the matter of O.A 72/2020 Management of Biomedical Waste (BMW) generated due to Covid-19 is required to implement the directions of the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The board has directed all the healthcare facilities that the guidelines for handling, treatment and disposal of waste generated during treatment, diagnosis, quarantine of Covid-19 patients be strictly implemented to ensure that the outbreak does not spread due to improper disposal of contaminated waste generated from quarantine or isolation centers. The guidelines further specify establishment, operation of Covid-19 samples collection and testing laboratories and the same should be informed to the SPCB, PCC of the State.
The guidelines also specify that the Pollution Control Boards are an essential health service for management of Covid-19, BMW and halting its rapid spread from contaminated waste.
Likewise, SPCB-Sikkim has appealed to all the citizens who are under self-quarantine or facility quarantine to ensure that all protective equipment are disposed off separately and are not mixed with the domestic solid waste. Further, all the citizens of the State have been advised to use masks compulsorily and proper disposal of the same in scientific manner to further prevent its reuse.
With respect to assessment of water quality, the SPCB has been keeping a close eye on the operation of Effluent Treatment Plants (ETP) and data is derived regularly to make sure that the ETP data are not manipulated. Also, CCTV cameras have been installed which are monitored on a weekly basis.