Guwahati’s air quality has significantly deteriorated, with particulate matter levels frequently exceeding national standards since 2017. This alarming trend prompted the launch of the city’s inaugural hotspot-based Clean Air Action Plan, unveiled on Wednesday by the International Forum for Environment, Sustainability and Technology (iFOREST) in partnership with the Assam Pollution Control Board (APCB). The initiative aims to combat pollution by identifying high-emission zones at the ward level.
The plan is based on detailed mapping that highlights where air pollution is most severe, allowing for targeted interventions. Rapid urbanization in Guwahati, coupled with an increase in vehicles, construction activities, waste burning, and industrial growth, are identified as primary causes of the city’s declining air quality. The city’s bowl-shaped geography, surrounded by the Khasi Hills and the Brahmaputra River, further complicates the dispersion of pollutants.
Data collected from 2017 to 2022 indicates a steady rise in PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅ levels. iFOREST CEO Chandra Bhushan noted at the plan’s launch that air pollution imposes a considerable economic burden, accounting for an estimated 3 to 5 percent of GDP due to its effects on public health and productivity. He emphasized the immediate need to meet existing air quality standards and described the Clean Air Action Plan as a comprehensive approach to achieve this through localized solutions.
APCB Chairman Arup Kumar Misra acknowledged that air pollution, once a rarity in Guwahati, has become a pressing issue due to prolonged dry spells, extensive infrastructure projects, rising traffic, and dust resuspension. He stressed the importance of public cooperation for the success of pollution control measures and pledged open lines of communication as the plan unfolds, supported by technical assistance from iFOREST.
A satellite-based analysis revealed distinct seasonal pollution hotspots throughout the city. In summer, elevated pollution levels are found along the silted banks of the Brahmaputra, in construction-heavy wards, and along busy traffic routes where road dust is easily stirred up. The situation worsens in winter, with hotspots spreading across central and eastern areas of Guwahati due to poor atmospheric dispersion, compounded by emissions from residential heating, waste burning, and heavy traffic.
Commercial hubs like Fancy Bazar, Ganeshguri, Beltola, Zoo Road Tiniali, Maligaon, and Lokhra frequently register high pollution levels attributed to clusters of food vendors and restaurants. Major markets and transport centers, including Paltan Bazar, Bhangagarh, Uzan Bazar, Six Mile, Azara, and Jalukbari, also show elevated PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀ concentrations, linked to ongoing cooking activities and congestion.
Moreover, open waste burning has been identified as a significant pollution source. Guwahati generates about 884 tonnes of municipal waste daily, with only 35 percent processed, leading to large amounts being disposed of or incinerated. Estimates suggest approximately 61 tonnes of waste are burned daily, contributing notably to particulate and black carbon emissions, while the landfill emits substantial methane annually.
Residential cooking and heating, particularly in slums and hillside communities where biomass and kerosene remain common despite high LPG availability, are also contributing factors. Additionally, commercial cooking with coal and charcoal heightens evening pollution levels in markets.
Transport emissions are exacerbated by a reliance on private vehicles, traffic congestion, and aging fleets, alongside weak enforcement of pollution standards. Diesel generators used during outages and emissions from industries such as brick kilns and stone crushers compound the issue.
The Clean Air Action Plan outlines phased, hotspot-specific measures to mitigate pollution. These include abolishing open waste burning through better waste collection and decentralized processing, promoting cleaner fuels for households and restaurants, enhancing transport management, managing construction dust, upgrading industrial fuel technologies, and expanding air quality monitoring.
The authors of the plan highlight that its success hinges on coordinated efforts from government agencies, industry stakeholders, and the community, with ongoing monitoring and enforcement essential to effectively reduce pollution levels in Guwahati.
Original Source: https://nenews.in/assam/guwahati-unveils-first-hotspot-based-clean-air-action-plan-to-tackle-pollution/37939/
Category: Assam,APCB,Clean Air Action Plan,Guwahati,iFOREST
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Publish Date: 2025-12-17 22:00:00
