Emissions of coal burning, firewood burning and vehicular combustion are worsening air quality during peak winter months in Kashmir.
While tourist footfall in Kashmir has witnessed an unprecedented surge for the second consecutive year this year, the experiences in the recent years have shown that air quality in Kashmir valley is very poor and as such a study on air quality in Kashmir is not only demanding but also overdue in view of the increasing intensity of the air pollution during peak winter months in Kashmir like other parts of north India. Basically the onus of determining air quality lies on Air Quality Monitoring Station (CAAQMS) of Kashmir University as it had undertaken a survey on air quality in Kashmir way back in the year 2014 when it had said that emissions of coal burning, firewood burning and vehicular combustion are worsening air quality during peak winter months in Kashmir. Since burning coal and fire wood during winters is an ages old practice in Kashmir which does not head to any dead end despite arrival of the latest heating appliances in the markets, the air quality during winter in Kashmir is likely to be more disturbing this time than what it was nine years back when Air Quality Monitoring Station (CAAQMS) of Kashmir University conducted a survey on air quality during winter in Kashmir valley. As most of air quality experts believe that dust particles going into air due to emissions of coal burning, firewood burning and vehicular combustion pose serious threats to human health during chilly months of winter in Kashmir , most of the health experts also believe that it could be a cause of the increasing intensity in the occurrence of chest diseases during chilly winter months in Kashmir.
“For measuring air quality during winters in Kashmir valley not only Air Quality Monitoring Station (CAAQMS) of Kashmir University is to be engaged but J&K Pollution Control Committee can also be asked to collaborate with it for conducting a survey on air quality during peak winter months in Kashmir valley. Till a survey on air quality is conducted during peak winter months in Kashmir the onus of advising people to avoid burning charcoal and fire wood lies equally on both the health department and as well as the Jammu & Kashmir Pollution Control Committee (J&K PCC) and never forget doing so would reduce the vulnerability of people to critical chest disorders during peak winter months in Kashmir Valley.”
While people in valley have themselves experienced it that air quality starts declining from the month of October and it’s declining trend increases unprecedentedly in peak winter months across Kashmir, the measures to maintain the air quality worsening more intensely in peak winter months due to intense burning of coal and fire wood are not only demanding but overdue in Kashmir Valley. For measuring air quality during winters in Kashmir valley not only Air Quality Monitoring Station (CAAQMS) of Kashmir University is to be engaged but J&K Pollution Control Committee can also be asked to collaborate with it for conducting a survey on air quality during peak winter months in Kashmir valley. Till a survey on air quality is conducted during peak winter months in Kashmir the onus of advising people to avoid burning charcoal and fire wood lies equally on both the health department and as well as the Jammu & Kashmir Pollution Control Committee (J&K PCC) and never forget doing so would reduce the vulnerability of people to critical chest disorders during peak winter months in Kashmir Valley.
About Author
