Air quality monitoring stations to be installed

Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) is planning to install two permanent ambient air quality monitoring stations at the Town Hall and near Lady Hill Circle in the city to constantly monitor the levels of air pollution.
Environment Officer Rajashekhar Puranik said in a release here in connection with the air pollution control month, that the board did not have permanent monitoring stations at present. It was, however, monitoring ambient air quality at regular intervals.
Puranik said vehicular air pollution accounted for about 66 per cent of the total causes, 44 per cent from smoke and 22 per cent from road dust. Industrial air pollution and construction activities accounted for about 14 per cent each. Industrial pollution levels had of late come down with the introduction of modern technology, he said.

As Mangaluru lay on the coastal line, there had been constant air circulation, thereby moving pollutants away from the city. However, constant efforts should be made to reduce the levels of air pollution, he said.
The air pollution control month was being observed with the aim of creating awareness on air pollution among the people and dissuades them from increasingly using private modes of transport, he said.