An analysis of winter Air Pollution in South India, conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE, New Delhi), has revealed thatKarnatakashows major data gaps from the automated air-quality monitoring stations in the region under Continous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) program of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
The analysis, covering 63 CAAQMS spread across the 39 cities in five southern states, has observed challenge of data gaps and data quality despite automation in Karnataka and Nadu. The situation relatively better in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Kerala. Among Bengaluru stations,Silk Boardhas only 61% while Peenya andJayanagarwith 64% and 68%. Only 12 out of 21 stations of Karnataka outside Bengaluru meet the minimum requirement of 75%. Its not clear why these stations have such poor data availability, this requires additional assessment, the analysis stressed.
Analysis has also stated that data availability calculated as number of days with adequate PM2.5 data for computation of a valid 24hr-Average has been low in 19 of 39 cities of 5 states.