Chennai: Manali, notorious for its industrial pollution and poor air quality, got a first-of-its-kind air monitoring system. Seventh facility in the city, the real time air monitoring system will help the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) officials to monitor the toxic pollutants and take steps to keep them at check. Implemented at the expenditure of `110 lakh, the Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring System (CAAQMS) will monitor dust and gaseous pollutants. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a senior official from the TNPCB said that the expenditure was equally borne by Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board and Central Pollution Control Board. The officials conducted the trial run on Monday.

It may be noted that Chennai has five CAAQMS stations at Kodungaiyur, Koyambedu, Perungudi, Royapuram and Gummidipoondi and one mobile CAAQMS that moves around the city. It was the need of the hour to install a CAAQMS at Manali, which is polluted with carcinogenic pollutants, due to the presence of chemical and oil refineries including Madras Fertilizers, Madras Rubber Factory (MRF) and Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL). Pollution managers admit that the Ammonia and dust levels in this industrial area have exceeded permissible levels.

“The equipment would check for Particulate Matter (PM 2.5 and PM 10), besides screening for dioxides of Sulphur and Nitrogen, Ozone, Carbon monoxide, Ammonia and Benzene, Toluene and Xylene (BTX),” said a TNPCB official, admitting that the PM 10 levels have been above normal here, due to vehicle movement and industrial emissions. The regulatory authority also assured that they would hold talks with the concerned industries to give instructions on air pollution control methods. “Dust collectors and wet scrubbers should be used to keep the emission levels at a check,” said the official.