PANAJI: The Goa state pollution control board (GSPCB) will spend around Rs 16 crore to conduct ambient air quality monitoring across 40 locations in the state including cities, mining belts and industrial estates to take immediate steps in case of air pollution.
GSPCB chairman Mahesh Patil said the board will get funds from the Centre and from mining companies to monitor air quality.
“Sampling locations will be identified by the board and necessary NOCs will also be obtained by it. The ambient air quality monitoring is to be carried out in compliance with the guidelines issued by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Revised Ambient Air Quality Standards notified in November 2009,” the GSPCB said.
P atil said that the continuous monitoring will help the board to direct the authorities to act in case of dust pollution. In Goa, air pollution is attributed to construction and vehicular traffic. Patil said that they have decided to monitor air quality at all mining transportation sites so that board gets data of air quality when mining is in operation and when it is shut.
“If we witness air pollution during transportation of ore, we will immediately direct the authorities to bring it under control or stop the transportation,” Patil said. Mining in Goa came to a halt in March 2018 after the Supreme Court quashed the second renewal of 88 mining leases. On September 7, the apex court dismissed an appeal filed by mining companies to allow them to operate mining leases till 2037.
The board has invited a bidder to monitor air ambient quality for the next two years. The board said that the laboratory will have to use dedicated Respirable Dust Samplers/Fine Particulate samplers as per CPCB approved technical specifications which include National Physical Laboratory (NPL) certified, for each station having capability to measure parameters.
GSPCB chairman Mahesh Patil said the board will get funds from the Centre and from mining companies to monitor air quality.
“Sampling locations will be identified by the board and necessary NOCs will also be obtained by it. The ambient air quality monitoring is to be carried out in compliance with the guidelines issued by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Revised Ambient Air Quality Standards notified in November 2009,” the GSPCB said.
P atil said that the continuous monitoring will help the board to direct the authorities to act in case of dust pollution. In Goa, air pollution is attributed to construction and vehicular traffic. Patil said that they have decided to monitor air quality at all mining transportation sites so that board gets data of air quality when mining is in operation and when it is shut.
“If we witness air pollution during transportation of ore, we will immediately direct the authorities to bring it under control or stop the transportation,” Patil said. Mining in Goa came to a halt in March 2018 after the Supreme Court quashed the second renewal of 88 mining leases. On September 7, the apex court dismissed an appeal filed by mining companies to allow them to operate mining leases till 2037.
The board has invited a bidder to monitor air ambient quality for the next two years. The board said that the laboratory will have to use dedicated Respirable Dust Samplers/Fine Particulate samplers as per CPCB approved technical specifications which include National Physical Laboratory (NPL) certified, for each station having capability to measure parameters.