Funds wasted amid severe air pollution in Jamshedpur and Ranchi

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, July 22: Air pollution has become a critical issue in both the capital city Ranchi and the industrial hub Jamshedpur. Despite the urgent need to address this problem, a significant portion of funds allocated for air pollution control remains unspent. According to data from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ranchi has utilized only 48.73 percent of the funds, while Jamshedpur has spent a mere 35.78 percent.

This underutilization of funds is particularly alarming given the high levels of toxic metals detected in dust particles in Jamshedpur and surrounding areas. A recent study by the Association of Socially Applicable Research (ASAR) revealed the presence of hazardous metals such as cadmium, chromium, lead, and zinc in the air. These metals, while not carcinogenic, pose severe health risks, especially to children.

Open burning of garbage near areas like Marine Drive exacerbates the problem, releasing harmful pollutants into the air. The lack of an adequate air quality control system in Jamshedpur means that accurate pollution levels are not being monitored, further complicating efforts to address the issue.

Research has shown that the ecological risk index in Jamshedpur is significantly higher than in Ranchi. Tanushree Bhattacharya of BIT Mesra highlighted the high concentration of toxic metals in the dust particles, which are likely a result of the numerous industries in the area. These metals cannot be removed even with pollution control devices and pose a major health threat.

The study found that the concentrations of chromium and nickel in Jamshedpur exceeded World Health Organization (WHO) levels, with cadmium posing the highest ecological risk. Alarmingly, roadside food stalls could be a major source of metal intake, endangering the health of children who consume food from these vendors.

Given the severity of the air pollution problem in Jamshedpur, the question arises: why is the allocated funding not being utilized effectively? Is the district administration, along with the pollution control board, ignoring this pressing issue? The health of residents, particularly children, is at stake, and immediate action is required to address the underutilization of funds and implement effective pollution control measures.