Dust pollution on the rise

LAHORE

High levels of dust particulates generated due to ongoing infrastructure development projects is resulting in warming the overall atmosphere, reduces visibility and causes various types of breathing problems.

The worst affected areas are Thokar Niaz Beig Chowk, Mansoora Chowk, Yateem Khana, Moree Samanabad, Chahburji, Jain Mandir, Mcleod Road, Lakshami Chowk, Railway Road, Allama Iqbal Road, Borth Wala Chowk, Railway Station, Salamatpura, Baghbanpura, UET, Ghass Mandi and many other localities on the GT Road.

Following the increased levels of dust, majority of commuters, travelling on the city roads especially on motorcycles, bicycles and on foot, are facing difficulty in breathing, eye-burning and nausea. Besides this, the residents of adjoining localities where construction work is going on are also suffering from this air- pollution, which has become a major source of asthma, lungs infection and blood pressure. Doctors said increased air-pollution and dust may cause several diseases of brain and heart.

The major air-pollutants present in the air dust particulates are oxides of nitrogen (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and breathing dust (PM2.5). A source at the EPD air testing unit claimed that presently the levels of PM2.5 are higher than the National Air Quality Index (AQI).

According to the AQI, pollution level from 0 to 25 is considered clean, 26 to 50 moderate, 51 to 100 unhealthy, 101 to 200 severe and 201 to 300 hazardous. The EPD source said at present the air quality is ranging between 201 to 300 around the areas where metro train project is being undertaken while 101 to 200 in most of other parts of the city.

The EPD sources claimed that the increase in air-pollution is a result of dust particulates produced at the ongoing infrastructure development projects i.e. Orange Line Metro Train and Signal Free Jail Road. Sources said pollution level along the route of Metro Train is severe while at jail road it is moderate to severe.

It is observed that contractors of the ongoing projects sprinkle water on the roads and its sides along the project area twice a day, which is not sufficient as water becomes dry and dust particulates start spreading due to traffic.

As per rules and regulations, contractors should have constituted a proper environmental wing to tackle environmental issues and hazards, said a senior EPD official adding a proper water sprinkling system should be introduced along the route of the project to avoid release of dust-particulars in the air.

Environmentalists believe that dust-particulates named as Particulate Matter (PM) is a key to monitoring air-pollution in every city and in Lahore this level has reach dangerous level recently.

They said PM 2.5 is a complex mixture of extremely small particles and liquid droplets adding particle pollution is made up of a number of components including acids (such as nitrates and sulfates), organic chemicals, metals and soil or dust particles. They further said size of particles is directly linked with their potential for causing health problems as once inhaled these particles can affect the heart and lungs.

Citizens said the Traffic Engineering and Planning Agency (TEPA) and the City District Government Lahore (CDGL) should take different measures to control the rising air-pollution in the city. They said departments concerned should start paving of the shoulders and plantation along the roads to ensure control in dust emission. Khwaja Awais, a resident of Kaporthala House, said his younger son is asthmatic and recently he shifted him to his brother’s house in Islamabad because his condition aggravated due to dust. “All of the windows of my house are closed but still it is full of dust,” he said.

Heer Malik, a resident of Baghbanpura, said she and her family are badly hit by the increased dust levels because her parents are old and can’t bear this much dust. I have no resources to go outside the city and have to bear this torture, she maintained.

Jamil Butt, a resident of Nisbat Road, said dust have ruined the life in his area. “Every night I and my friends used to sit out of our homes but since the start of this Metro train project we are unable to sit out,” he said adding a large number of children in his area are suffering from cough and other chest related diseases.

Naseemur Rehman, Director EPD while talking with The News, said contractors of all projects were already directed to sprinkle water on the roads. He said other than this the department had already launched a crackdown on air-polluting industrial units operating in various city's localities.

Director General EPA, talking with The News, said department has already directed the DO Lahore to ensure proper water sprinkling on the roads. He said the EPA will take strict action against the violators and has a zero tolerance policy in this regard.