Air Quality Status and Management in Tier II and III Indian Cities: A Case Study of Aurangabad City, Maharashtra

Abstract

Across the world, air pollution has emerged as one of the grave threats to public health. According to a report by The Energy Research Institute (TERI) and UC San Diego (University of California at San Diego) (2016), 80% of Indian cities are unable to meet the prescribed air quality standards and in almost 56% of these cities, the pollutant levels are nearly 1.5 times the permissible limits resulting in high mortality and morbidity. Managing India’s air pollution requires a comprehensive national action plan with a focus on city level management plans. City level management requires stakeholder engagement, an informed city and trained personnel to deal with the complex issues of air quality monitoring as well as financial support.

Aurangabad city has been listed under the 17 nonattainment cities in Maharashtra based on the observation of exceedance with respect to National Ambient Air Quality Standards 2009 consecutively during 2011 to 2015. Particulate matter is a cause of concern for the city. Aurangabad’s Air Quality Action Plan highlights action under various points.

Aurangabad currently has four monitoring stations for one million residents; it should have six monitoring stations within the city in commercial, industrial, and sensitive areas. City lacks display boards providing air quality information to public. Further the emission inventory and source apportionment studies need to be completed at the earliest in order to highlight the sources of pollution and their respective contribution to city’s air quality. City also needs to urgently undertake research studies on the impact of air pollution on health, extensive drive against polluting vehicles, public awareness campaigns for air pollution control, vehicle maintenance and minimizing use of personal vehicles, and prevent parking of vehicles in congested areas. Provision of public transport needs to be ensured. District admisnistration must ensure unadulterated fuel and also provide clean fuel to city residents. AMC must implement various initiatives planned under the Smart City plan in a time bound manner for improving city’s air quality.