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By S. Rubatheesan
In the past week many people in the North, especially the elderly and other vulnerable groups, have been experiencing breathing difficulties as the North-East monsoon brought heavy showers. The reason: The prevailing poor air quality.
On Thursday (13), the Air Quality Index (AQI) of Jaffna increased up to 62- classified as moderately risky for sensitive groups, especially those with respiratory issues.
The air quality is measured for Particular Matter (PM) by quantifying the concentration of particles. At PM 2.5 – a diameter of 2.5 micrometres- small particles can be inhaled while breathing.
T. Murugesu, 64, from Neerveli, Jaffna, used to go to the nearby market with his banana harvest every day on his bicycle, but he couldn’t cycle this week.
He experienced tiredness coupled with brief breathing difficulties throughout the week. ‘We haven’t experienced this kind of difficulty during monsoon rains in the past here, but it is increasingly becoming more difficult with changing wind patterns in recent times.”
According to the Air Quality Control Unit at the National Building Research Institute (NBRO), the air quality index remained in the range of 41- 62 throughout the week.
Earlier this year, the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS), a Europe-based Observation institution, detailed how in January, South Asia had experienced persistent poor air quality across the Himalayan foothills, affecting major urban cities with high PM levels.
According to a health warning issued by CAMS, every human inhales 14 kg of air each day, while drinking just 2 kg of water and eating 1.5 kg of food.
Air is therefore an essential component for life. With each breath, we inhale the necessary oxygen, but also small amounts of potentially harmful gases and small particles.
“Research shows that adverse health effects do not only result from ‘acute events’ but also from chronic exposure, reducing human life expectancy by more than eight months on average and by more than two years in the most polluted cities and regions worldwide,” the health advisory note stressed.
In addition, transboundary air waves play a key role in poor air quality in the region, while human activities such as burning garbage on their residential properties and setting fire to harvested paddy fields have made the situation worse in recent years.
Dr. Umasugi Nadarajah, a resident from Nallur, Jaffna, has been consistently advocating for local authorities to step in with regulatory measures in order to ensure a healthy air quality level in the region.
She pursued legal action against the failure by Jaffna Municipal Council to take tough measures to ensure healthy air quality level, resulting in relevant stakeholders being directed by courts recently to comply with directives.
“There have been practical difficulties in implementing simple things, as burning garbage is happening in most of the district. Even last week, garbage was burned near the police station and public library, located in the heart of the city. The police are supposed to take action against this kind of activity,” Dr. Nadarajah told the Sunday Times.
In addition to burning garbage, using firewood for household cooking also plays a major role in the air quality and poses health risks for women, she pointed out.
Prof. N. Piratheeparajah, Head of Department of Geography at University of Jaffna, told the Sunday Times that the Northern province, particularly Jaffna, is facing an imminent danger due to increasingly poor air quality levels and that authorities should step in and take preventive measures.
“There has not been much awareness among the public about how serious this issue is going to be in the future, where the city area might become unlivable due to lower air quality levels. This week’s poor air quality was partially due to transboundary conditions emerging from the North Indian region. However, the arrival of the monsoon will absorb those conditions and air quality will improve in the coming days,” Prof. Piratheeparaja said.
The academic stressed that human activities, particularly burning garbage and emissions from the increasing number of vehicles in the region, are causing severe damage to air quality in the Jaffna region.
Step up on the law to ensure clean air, court urges authorities
On Tuesday, the Court of Appeal directed the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) and the Jaffna Municipal Council (JMC) to prepare a comprehensive programme to counter poor air quality levels in the Jaffna region ahead of the next hearing fixed for January 22 next year.
Hearing the petition filed by Dr. Umasugi Nadarajah, the Bench comprising Court of Appeal President Justice Rohantha Abeysuriya and Justice Priyantha Fernando instructed the CEA and the JMC to take the 2017 regulation into account when drafting their proposed mitigation strategy.
Representing the petitioner, Attorney-at-Law Dr Ravindranath Dabare brought to the attention of the court that a Gazette issued in 2017 by then President Maithripala Sirisena prohibited the open burning of garbage and waste across the country.
He argued that this directive had not been properly enforced and urged authorities to implement a comprehensive plan to address air quality deterioration in line with the provisions of that Gazette.
When the case was taken by the Court on September 19, the same bench gave directives for JMC and CEA to formulate specific measures to control the poor air quality levels and submit relevant investigation reports as well. (Courtesy- The Sunday Times)
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