Missing Data On Pune Municipal Corporation’s Air Quality Monitoring System Sparks Concerns
Missing Data On Pune Municipal Corporation's Air Quality Monitoring System Sparks Concerns
Pune, January 2, 2025: Concerns have been raised over the lack of updated data from Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) air quality monitoring systems installed across 45 locations in the city. The system, initially established under the Smart City initiative, reportedly has no available records post-June 2024, prompting questions about its functionality and transparency.
Activist Vivek Velankar from Sajag Nagrik Manch has submitted a formal request to the PMC Disaster Management Department, which now oversees the monitoring systems, demanding daily updates on air quality data on the PMC website. He raised critical concerns about whether the systems are operational, who is responsible for their maintenance, and why the data is not being updated despite significant public expenditure.
The air quality monitoring systems, installed since 2015, aim to track pollution levels and guide mitigation efforts. In areas like Vaikunth crematorium, where pollution complaints were prevalent, specific monitoring units were set up. These systems were later handed over to PMC from Smart City administration. However, the absence of daily updates has left citizens in the dark about the city’s pollution status.
Velankar emphasized that timely and accurate air quality data could help PMC, traffic police, and residents implement effective pollution control measures. Pune ranks among India’s top ten most polluted cities, underscoring the urgency for improved monitoring and public access to environmental data.
