It looked like a typical misty and lovely winter morning in Kolkata. Christmas is just a few days away. Nilesh was about to leave his Ballygunge circular road home around 5.30 for a morning stroll. After walking barely for 50 meters, an uncomfortable sensation stung his throat and his chest felt congested. An IT firm worker in his early 30s, he often copes with breathing problems. But the breathing hassles in the early hours took him by surprise.
A spirometry test next week revealed the culprit. The air pollution in his area was abysmal and coupled with his smoking habit, it was taking a toll on his lungs. While Nilesh has decided to quit smoking and got an air purifier, unfortunately, that won’t be enough. It is not a personal health issue, after all. The menace is looming over our heads as the winter air quality in Kolkata is nose-diving, exposing us to several hazards in the near future.
The winter air quality in Kolkata is plummeting to an all-time low
The average AQI or air quality index in the city of Joy is sliding to a record low, more so in the winter months. Kolkata’s AQI was between 195 and 271 in January 2024, according to the available data.
In colder months, Kolkata’s air quality worsens owing to the factors like:
- Increased levels of vehicular pollution.
- Absence of showers to cleanse the air.
- Low wind speed in the colder months slowing pollutant dispersal.
- Burning of dry leaves and garbage in the open spaces.
Recent govt initiatives to bring down air pollution in Kolkata
The state govt and civic authorities have planned several strategies to tackle the menace. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation has adopted a few initiatives to tackle the city’s winter air pollution.
- It has resorted to water sprinkling on the city roads to combat the dust menace – a major contributing factor to air pollution. It will help reduce particulate matter quotient in the air.
- The KMC has mandated the covering of construction materials and any debris in the construction zones.
- The state pollution control board and KMC have stepped up vigil to thwart open waste burning on the city roads, a major air pollution contributor.
The role of citizens to combat winter air pollution in Kolkata
While the government is taking proactive measures and drawing long-term plans to fight the air pollution hazard, we, as residents, must do the needful, too. Here are some tips to get started today:
1. When possible, use metro routes instead of taking out fuel-guzzling cars. With metro routes rapidly expanding to the corners of the city and suburbs, it is a logical alternative to using vehicles using fossil fuel, adding to air pollution. Take your cars for pollution checkups periodically to stay safe, as well.
2. For small distances and going to markets etc, try walking instead of taking the bike or car out. It helps you burn calories and helps lower the amount of vehicular pollution.
3. Are you planning to replace an ageing personal car or two-wheeler? Then, consider going for electric ones. You will find more scooters and four-wheelers- with hybrid and electric powertrains hitting the market. With prices plummeting steadily and the govt offering discounts and subsidies on such greener vehicles, choosing them for city commuting needs would be a sensible step.
4. Do not resort to open burning of dry leaves and waste. Also, make it a habit to protest against the practice in the neighbourhood. This is something you should teach your children, too!
5. Basic as it may sound, planting more trees is the most effective way to combat winter and overall air pollution in a city like Kolkata. Use the terrace and balcony for growing small plants and climbers. If you have a backyard or front garden your planting options become much wider. Also, it would be a good idea to keep indoor plants with air purification properties like money plants and snake plants.
6. Nowadays, people burn crackers outside of festivals like Diwali as well. In fact, you would find people celebrating Christmas and New Year by bursting firecrackers. If you have the same habit, ensure you buy only certified green crackers. Your celebrations and revelry should not cause the city to choke on air.
Creating a better tomorrow for Kolkata – with cleaner air to breathe
Imagine a future where winter mornings will no longer be clogged with fine particulate matter (PM2.5), enabling your loved ones to intake fresh and clean air in every breath. Wearing masks outside will become a thing of the past.
To achieve such a future for the city of joy, we must be united in our efforts to fight the menace of winter air pollution. As residents, we need to do our bit to augment the efforts of the govt and civic entities for a better outcome and healthy atmosphere in the near future.
