In a positive development amid 21-day lockdown ordered by the authorities keeping in view depressing scenario caused by Coronavirus, the air quality of winter capital of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has improved considerably due to drastic decline in the pollution level, which otherwise was remotely possible during normal course of life.
According to online media reports, pollution level in Jammu city and its suburbs was on increasing mode during the past many decades because of unabated addition in the vehicular population and opening of industrial units of all the categories.
The situation was being further complicated by construction and demolition activities, which generate huge amount of dust particles. Two major projects like Jammu-Akhnoor road widening and construction of Ring Road from Raya Suchani to Nagrota were contributing a lot to the already increasing air pollution level in winter capital of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
On an average the monitoring stations of the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Board established in different parts of Jammu city and its outskirts were recording Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) between 140 and 150 microgram per cubic meter as against maximum permissible limit of 100 microgram per cubic meter, sources said.
However, even since the authorities have imposed complete lockdown to contain the spread of Coronavirus, the air quality of Jammu has improved significantly, which is a positive development amid prevailing depressing scenario.
This is because there is no vehicular movement on the roads, the industrial units have remained closed and construction activities have come to the grinding halt because of the restrictions imposed by the Government.
Media reports also disclosed that Union Ministry of Environment and Forest has recently sanctioned 24 more air monitoring stations for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Of these, 13 will be established at the district level in Jammu and 11 in different parts of Kashmir valley so as to regularly monitor air quality.
Not only air pollution, the lockdown has also drastically reduced the noise pollution level in the entire Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
