After 50 days of clean air, pollution level spikes in city

As the number of vehicles on roads increased, the pollution has reached the levels before lockdown. After 50 days of clean air, the quality worsened.

According to the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) data, the air quality levels in the city have crossed the permissible limit of 60 microgram/m3. The level of PM 2.5 in Gumidipoondi was 94 microgram/m3, Royapuram 62 microgram/m3, Perungudi 60 microgram/m3 and Manali 85 microgram / m3 on Tuesday, which is considered as satisfactory.

However, the air quality levels in the rest of the city were within the permissible limits of 60 microgram/m3 as per Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Alandur bus depot recorded 26 microgram/m3 and Velachery 52 microgram/m3, which is considered to be good.

When contacted, a senior TNPCB official said, “When the lockdown was imposed, pollution reduced. But from Monday, when the relaxation was announced in the city, the air quality level started decreasing gradually. Last month, at Perungudi and Alandur, the air quality data showed that the pollution level was only 20 microgram/m3.”