The Assam Pollution Control Board (APCB) has launched a new initiative, the ‘Guwahati Clean Air Plan,’ in collaboration with iForest and the Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation, aiming to improve air quality in Guwahati. This comes after an earlier action plan remained largely unimplemented. The plan highlighted that road dust and vehicular emissions are the largest contributors to air pollution, with road dust accounting for 37% of PM10 emissions and road transport for 52% of PM2.5 emissions. The report also pointed out significant non-compliance with Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) dust management guidelines, alongside a lack of enforcement measures.
Traffic congestion is another critical issue, exacerbated by inadequate parking systems and poorly designed intersections. The report recommends a structured traffic congestion management approach as part of the plan. Industrial pollution, particularly from iron and steel units using coal-fired furnaces, was flagged as a major concern. Guwahati’s solid waste management system also requires urgent attention, as only 650 out of 884 tonnes of daily waste is collected and about half of that processed, with a portion being burnt, contributing to emissions.
The plan includes recommendations for improved dust control measures, such as soil stabilization, increased green cover, and reforestation efforts along vulnerable areas, including the Brahmaputra riverbanks. The release of this plan was attended by various stakeholders, indicating community engagement in these efforts to enhance the city’s air quality.
