APD to Monitor Air Quality in City during Diwali
Mangaluru: Anti-Pollution Drive (APD) Foundation, an NGO, has set up four stations across the city to monitor air quality before and during Diwali festival. Under the ‘Shuddha Gaali’ project, the foundation has set up air quality assessment stations at four places. The assessment of air quality started on Monday.
Speaking to Team Mangalorean, Abdullah A Rehman-Founder of APD Foundation said, “We will assess the air quality on Tuesday and again on Thursday and Friday (during the festival). Of late, many people are celebrating Diwali without firecrackers considering the ill effects crackers cause on the environment and health of the people. To motivate people to continue this trend, the foundation has planned three projects for the people. Firstly an Eco-Friendly Diwali celebration along with Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) was held at a Public School.
The second project is to assess the air quality to show the impact of firecrackers on environment. “This project will be supported by St George’s Homeopathy. We will be testing the air quality levels in four residential locations for two days starting Monday. Later, on Thursday and Friday, air quality will be again tested at the same locations,” Rehman said adding that report of the air quality assessment will be submitted to the district administration, Mangaluru City Corporation and Department of forest and environment.
In addition, the APD Foundation will also conduct an advocacy drive, he said. “We will be submitting a memorandum to the district commissioner appealing him to take five problems (child labour, untoward incidents, air and noise pollution, effect on mental health and improper disposal) that are caused by fireworks into consideration and take appropriate steps.
The APD Foundation was set up in view of the fact that there is an apparent awareness, information and data deficit amongst the citizens of our country regarding environmental issues. Their key instruments towards obtaining their objective would be through holistic information, data sharing & advocacy campaign where they sensitise the people about the ill effects of pollution and drive the citizenry towards taking a more involved role in sustainable and responsible living.
Overview
Air Pollution, the silent killer, is today considered to be one of the major causes of death and many life-threatening diseases, affecting vital parts of the human body. Air Pollution is ranked as the 5th largest killer in India and is one of the main contributing causes of asthma and various other respiratory related problems in most children and adults.
Mission
Anti Pollution Drive (APD) Foundation, is established to spearhead a crusade against all kinds of air pollution to ensure a safe, clean and sustainable environment for healthy living. The Drive aims to wake the conscience of people by spreading awareness about air pollution, negotiating with the law makers and the law enforcement agents to implement the existing laws, so that immediate and more stringent action is taken against citizens that choose to flout them, thus enabling to achieve clean air for our citizens.