Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) is all set to install Continuous Online Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (COAAQMS) along the 23 iron ore transportation routes across North and South to monitor dust pollution.
The move comes ahead of the commencement of fresh iron ore activities in the State.
The Board did all this while using a manual method, wherein the analysis of pollutants was measured once every six days where data was transferred manually.
The new facility will provide real-time data of
parameters like Particulate Matter (PM10), PM 2.5, Nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide.
According to sources, the Board firmly believes that the traditional approach of air monitoring in the mining belt will not be sufficient to track dust pollution along these routes, which are also being investigated by the Bombay High Court in Goa.
According to sources, the Board members decided at their most recent meeting to keep an eye on the air quality at all mining transportation locations in order to provide the Board with information about the quality of the air both during and after mining operations.
The installation will be finished prior to the start of fresh ore transportation, according to sources. “Only COAAQMS will provide effective surveillance and data of dust pollution in mining areas for necessary action,” they added.
“If we witness air pollution during transportation of ore, we will immediately direct the authorities to bring it under control or stop the transportation,” according to sources.
