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Jammu & Kashmir Upgrades Air Monitoring Amid Climate Shifts
11 Mar
Summary
- New monitoring stations will track air quality in four districts.
- Budget of ₹80 lakh allocated for environmental monitoring expansion.
- Efforts aim to combat pollution exacerbated by dry winters.
The Jammu and Kashmir government is significantly expanding its environmental monitoring network by allocating ₹80 lakh in the 2026-27 UT capex budget. This investment will establish four new sensor-based real-time ambient air quality monitoring stations in Pulwama, Anantnag, Kathua, and Samba districts.
The expansion aims to address data blind spots and fluctuating air quality indices, which have ranged from satisfactory to moderate. Environmentalists note that reduced snowfall and winter rain, combined with the Valley's topography, lead to pollutants lingering longer. The existing three stations in Srinagar and industrial belts will be augmented.
Real-time systems are crucial for tracking pollution hotspots, including those affected by industrial emissions and urban growth. Initiatives under the National Clean Air Programme have already shown PM10 reductions in Jammu and Srinagar since 2020-21. Measures like mandatory zig-zag technology for brick kilns and stricter regulations for stone crushers are also being implemented.
Further research is supported through a partnership to establish a high-altitude climate research station at Patnitop. These comprehensive efforts underscore a commitment to improving air quality and public health in the Union Territory.
