PCB to expand air quality monitoring in Visakhapatnam

With air pollution levels rising, the State Pollution Control Board (PCB) has decided to expand air quality monitoring across Visakhapatnam to assess area-wise variations and identify the reasons for the recent decline.

Monitoring will be taken up in dust-prone areas as well as IT hubs such as Madhurawada and Rushikonda, hospital zones in Arilova Health City, and traffic-heavy localities including Kommadi, Vepagunta, Car Shed Junction, and Beach Road.

Air quality has deteriorated since the first week of last month, with PM10 and PM2.5 levels reaching hazardous limits. The issue drew attention after the Air Quality Index at the online monitoring station on the GVMC main office building crossed 300, placing Visakhapatnam on the national list of dust-polluted cities.

The 625 sq. km GVMC area currently has only one online ambient air quality monitoring station, while offline monitoring is carried out in select locations to arrive at the city’s average air quality. Officials say most monitoring points are at busy junctions with high dust levels, which may be influencing readings. The city’s AQI is now ranging between 250 and above 300.

Additional monitoring devices will be installed in areas away from the port and major industries to measure PM10, PM2.5, nitrogen oxides, and other pollutants. “The findings will help us identify whether pollution is widespread or limited to specific pockets and take corrective action,” a senior PCB official said.