Hinjawadi residents, ITians choking with Delhi like pollution, Air purifiers demand increase

Sumit Singh

Pune, November 23,2019: The
Air Quality Index (AQI) in Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park in Hinjawadi, which houses hundreds of IT companies, has reached 427 this week, which has prompted people to install air purifiers.

AQI defines the concentration of pollutants, like particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), nitrogen, sulphur and other toxic pollutants.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Supriya Sule, who is MP from Baramati constituency under whose area Hinjawadi comes, raised the matter in Rajya Sabha on November 21.

“Spoke on air pollution and climate change during short duration discussion raised under Rule 193. Raised the severe pollution levels of #Hinjawadi area of Pune. Recommended the Centre to undertake concrete actions now, as we have enough dialogue and various Committee reports on air pollution. Questioned the Government on accountability of spending of Rs 30,000 core of CAMPA fund, and percentage of budget spent on controlling air pollution. Recommended the Government to divert resources it spends on advertising to checking pollution”, Sule tweeted.

People from Wakad and Hinjawadi areas said that in the last few days pollution levels have escalated drastically.

Ravindra Sinha, president of the Hinjawadi IT Residents’ Welfare Association (HIRWA), told a newspaper that on November 21, AQI level had reached 427. On Friday evening, it went to 302, while Delhi hit 361.

Sinha pointed that the reason could be stubble and garbage burning around Hinjawadi during late evening hours and early morning since the last few days. This has resulted in accumulation of smog.

People are facing many problems including sore throats, itchy eyes and noses, wheezing as also breathlessness.

The schools in the area are forced to operate with closed windows.