Amdavadis are gearing up for a dhamakedar Diwali this year, with Covid cases down to a trickle and curfew times relaxed. While air pollution is still a major concern, all of the city’s eight SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research) boards that display the air quality index have been out of function for the past six months.
On May 12, 2017, the first Indian air pollution monitoring and early warning system was launched in Ahmedabad. Bopal, Satellite, Airport, Pirana, Rakhial, Chandkheda, Raikhad, and GIFT City were among the eight air quality monitoring locations in Ahmedabad where the boards were installed.
As part of the Air Information and Response plan, citizens would be informed about the ‘air quality index’ via LED screens located across the city. While the current AQI and pollution estimate for the following day may be available on the SAFAR-Air app, it should be noted that each SAFAR display board cost the AMC between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 12 lakh, according to sources.
And though SAFAR has been accepted internationally with peer-reviewed Elsevier Journal publishing its findings, no attention has been paid to ensure the LED display boards are up and running.
For over a year, the display board near Stadium Circle in Navrangpura has been inaccessible. Similarly, the LED display at Vastrapur Lake is not functioning. In most regions where these boards have been put, this is the situation.
According to AMC sources, the city had an overall AQI of roughly 259 on November 14, 2020, with 235 in Navrangpura, 328 in Pirana, 159 in Rakhial, 365 in Raikhad, 307 in Chandkheda, 176 in Bopal, 319 in Satellite, and 324 in Airport. The AQI for Diwali 2019 was around 102, down from 315 the year before.
“As the central government’s meteorological department is responsible for maintaining all of the boards of the Safar project in Ahmedabad, we are not aware if they are operating or not,” stated AMC Deputy Health Officer Dr. Chirag Shah.
The concerned official at the meteorological department could not be reached for a comment.
SAFAR project was executed in collaboration with Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, Ministry of Earth Science, Government of India, Indian Meteorology department, Earth System Science Organisation and Global Atmosphere Watch.
For the past five years, Ahmedabad has been receiving AQI data, and while display boards have been installed at eight locations, the AMC has taken zero effort to enhance the city’s air quality.
After building air purifier units near the Pirana dump site two years ago, AMC planned to install them across the city. The plan, however, did not take off. AMC recently tasked a company with conducting a survey to improve the city’s air quality.