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MPCB to use mobile vans to collect ambient air quality data in Pune
Maharashtra Pollution Control Board has launched five mobile air quality monitoring vans to expand monitoring systems and check ambient air quality in cities including Pune and Mumbai.
The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has brought in five mobile air quality monitoring vans to expand the air quality monitoring systems and check the ambient air quality in various cities. The system is currently being installed in the vehicles, and they will soon be functioning, said officials.
Shankar Waghmare, regional officer, MPCB, Pune said, “One vehicle each will be deployed in Pune, Mumbai, Thane, Kolhapur, and Nagpur cities. Currently, the monitoring vans are in the induction phase, once that is done, the vans will be utilised to collect the ambient air quality data.”
According to air quality monitoring data by MPCB, the air quality of Pune is constantly at a moderate level, and vehicle emission is the biggest source of air pollution. As the city is part of centre’s National Clean Air Project (NCAP), multiple efforts are being taken to cope with the pollution issues.
Pratap Jagtap, sub-regional officer, MPCB, Pune said, “The monitoring van has been bought in Pune to collect the ambient air quality data. The mobile vans will be deployed at different locations as per the requirements to monitor the air quality a particular area in Pune and Pimpri - Chinchwad.
Speaking about the existing monitoring network Jagtap said, “Currently, there are three-four air quality monitoring stations in the PMC area. This includes an automatic station at Karve Road and three manual stations at Swargate, Nal Stop, and Shivajinagar where data is collected weekly. Apart from this, five new Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) in PMC and the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation area have been installed and are under the trial phase.”
The addition of new mobile vans will help us to collect ambient air quality data, which will benefit to develop policies to tackle air pollution problems in Pune, he added.
