DIMAPUR: Both Kohima and Dimapur, the two major towns of Nagaland, have not met the air quality standards set by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), said Hukato Chishi, member secretary, Nagaland Pollution Control Board (NPCB). He added that the CPCB report was based on the data submitted by the NPCB.
Chishi, who is also the state nodal officer of the national clean air programme (NCAP), however, said while the air quality of Kohima town has been improving in the last three years since the launch of NCAP, Dimapur's air quality has been deteriorating. He said the CPCB has set standards for air quality in towns and cities across all states.
Chishi was speaking during the launch of the improvised traffic control system at Holy Cross police point in Dimapur on Tuesday.
He said the NPCB has seven respirable dust samplers in Dimapur and three in Kohima to analyse air samples. The NPCB sends the air sample reports to the CPCB, he added.
Chishi acknowledged Dimapur commissioner of police Kevithuto Sophie and his team for providing a platform for the pollution control board to reach out to the residents of Dimapur as well as the entire state. He requested the Dimapur district administration, Dimapur Municipal Council, police, Chumoukedima district administration, forest department and other departments concerned to work together as a team in achieving the target of improving air quality in the area.
Dimapur commissioner of police Sophie expressed gratitude to the NPCB and the environment and climate change department for sponsoring the concept of 'cleaning the environment to a certain extent'. He said Dimapur traffic police was selected as one of the six departments for this noble concept as everyone is aware that "we live in a polluted world".
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