Concern mounts over poor air quality in Kochi; Corpn. to set up monitoring stations

KOCHI Increasing vehicular emissions, unscientifically operated construction sites without adequate safeguards to check pollution, and changes in wind patterns and atmospheric conditions during the transition period from monsoon to winter could be contributing to the deteriorating air quality in Kochi city, experts feel. Of late, there have been widespread concerns over the poor Air Quality Index (AQI) in the city, triggering debates on social media and beyond. This has prompted the Kochi Corporation to initiate steps to set up air quality monitoring stations at seven critical locations, while the Kerala State Pollution Control Board (PCB) is awaiting the State government’s nod for the repair, operation, and maintenance of its two dysfunctional Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) at Vyttila and Kaloor.