On November 17, 2021, Rajesh Mohite, Municipal Commissioner, Chandrapur City Municipal Corporation inaugurated a "billboard that breathes" at Sawarkar chowk in Chandrapur city, Maharashtra. Mohite indicated that the initiative to create awareness and encourage political leadership towards action, was not just an exercise by activists groups Eco-pro and Waatavaran, but also a Chandrapur Municipal Corporation initiative. Eco-pro is a youth organisation working towards conservation around Chandrapur, while Waatavaran works with the local communities that are disproportionately affected by climate change. The demonstration was supported by the Chandrapur Clean Air Action group, a collective of organisations and activists.
The billboard uses a giant pair of lungs, made using a white filter medium with a pair of fans at the back of the billboard that drives air through the filters. The setup mimics the the functioning of lungs that breathe the same air, on a larger scale. There was also a digital indicator on the billboard to provide citizens with the air quality index (AQI) in realtime. On the fifth day, the AQI crossed the 200 mark, considered to be hazardous. Over the course of the week, particulate matter accumulated in the lungs, changing their colour from white to brown, and by the sixth day, the colour was approaching black. The faux lungs on the billboard turned completely black in eight days.
A volunteer from Eco Pro at the site of the billboard. (Image credit: Chandrapur Clean Air Action group)
Bhagwan Kesbhat, Founder of Waatavaran indicated that the billboards are a tried and tested method of creating awareness about the negative health impacts of air pollution, "When we placed a similar billboard in Bandra, Mumbai it took 14 days to go completely black but in Kharghar it turned black in only 10 days." Keshbhat said that Waatavaran's social media presence would be used to encourage citizens from the city to track the billboard, and reach out to elected representatives to ensure that political leadership takes notice of the rising air pollution in Chadrapur, and take meaningful action to remedy the situation."
Farah Kazi, Director Campaigns at Waatavaran who has been monitoring the AQI readings on the indicator says, "On Nov 17, when the lung billboard was installed, the daily average AQI was 207, the highest that week. Between November 17 to 24 the AQI crossed 200 on five days and came down slightly only due to the weather changes and rains. The weekly average AQI of the location has been 199, which also is very close to the 'Poor' category."
An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered "good", between 51 and 100, "satisfactory", between 101 and 200, "moderate", between 201 and 300, "poor" and between 301 and 400, "very poor". The health advisory for those living in areas with poor air quality is that people with lung diseases, older adults and children should remain indoors and avoid heavy or prolonged exertion. Poor air quality is a health risk for the elderly, and even adults may face some discomfort.
On November 24, Chandrapur Member of Parliament (MP) Balu Dhanorkar and Member of Legilative Assembly (MLA) Kishor Jorgewar visted the billboard acknowledged the efforts of the Chandrapur Clean Air Action Group, expressed concern over how rapidly the lungs had turned black, and both committed to raising the issue in Parliament, and the State winter session of the assembly.
As the faux lungs turned black within ten days, over 30 concerned citizens, activists, media professionals and doctors convened at the billboard on November 25 to chart out the actions to be taken by the various groups towards demanding clean air in the city. While the residents of Chandrapur were well aware of their plight, of being forced to breathe toxic air, activists from the city noted that the public demonstration would stir up the Maharashtra State government to take serious measures to improve the air quality in the region.
Bandu Dhotre, President Eco Pro and member of Chandrapur Clean Air Action Group noted that the citizens were talking about the billboard, "This is for the first time that people can see and explain the health impact of breathing polluted air on their lungs. Everyone is talking about the 'colour-changing lungs' and we hope that the Chandrapur Municipal Corporation, which is supporting this campaign takes a note and initiates stringent action that will help improve air quality." Dhotre called for the Maharashtra State government to take action as the health of the citizens of Chandrapur was being compromised because of the pollution.
Dhotre indicated plans to continue to engage with the youth and citizens, even though the lungs had already turned black, "We want to try and get as many people to see this billboard so that they understand that their health and that of their loved ones is being affected and hence citizens will need to get together and raise their voice to demand clean air."
Rajesh Mohite noted that it was important that all the stakeholders work together towards a solution, "As a coordinating agency, the municipal corporation will do its best to ensure the effective implementation of the Chandrapur Clean Air Action Plan." Mohite indicated that immideate steps will be taken to manage road dust, construction, demolition waste, as well as domestic burning of coal.
Emissions from the Chandrapur Super Thermal Power Station, a Maharashtra State Power Generation Co. Ltd. (MAHGENCO) project contributes to the pollution. Better management and technology at the power plant can make the air cleaner. Suresh Chopane, member of Chandrapur Clean Air Action Group has presented recommendations that include using flue gas desulfurization (FGD) to remove the sulfur produced by the powerplants, as well as shutting down the old units 3 and 4, and making sure that the new units comply with emission norms.
To reduce vehicular emissions, the public transport infrastructure must be improved. Further to combat air pollution, it is equally important to address the issue of domestic coal burning.
-Suresh Chopane
Bhagwan Kesbhat, Founder of Waatavaran said that the problem can no longer be ignored considering that there are several studies that point to deteriorating quality in the region, and its impact on the health of the local poplation, "A first pan-India study conducted by Indian scientists found that areas with poor air quality and higher emissions of particulate matter (PM) 2.5 are more likely to have Covid-19 infections and related deaths. It is high time that all authorities take necessary steps to improve air quality."
According to the study, the particulate matter penetrates deep within the body, causing inflammation of the lungs and the respiratory tract, causing cardiovascular and respiratory problems, including weakening the immune system. The study found that cities where fossil fuel emissions dominate are susceptible to cases of COVID-19.
According to the Air Quality Life Index released by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago in 2019, the average reduction in lifespan because of PM 2.5 pollution was 4 years in Maharashtra. Exposure to the PM 2.5 pollution reduced life expectancy by 3.7 years in Mumbai, 4.2 years in Pune and 5 years in several polluted districts in Vidharba. A 25 per cent decrease in PM 2.5 pollution would allow citizens in Chandrapur an average increase of 1.1 years in life expectancy.
During the July 2021 parliament session, data submitted by the union environment ministry in Lok Sabha singled out Chandrapur as the only non-attainment city in Maharashtra which recorded an increase in particulate matter PM 10 levels despite three subsequent lockdowns over the course of 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Central Pollution Control Board tracks the tracks and scores highly polluted cities and industrial areas in the Central Environmental Pollution Index (CEPI), where Chandrapur has gone from contaminated to seriously polluted. According to a 2019 assessment, Chandrapur is Maharashtra's most polluted city, and is ranked eighth in the country for pollution levels.
Professor Yogesh Dudhpachare of Green Planet Society, Chandrapur said, "The residents of Chandrapur have suffered for years from the pollution of these coal plants due to air emissions and fly ash. Retiring at least the older units is the right thing to do environmentally and will bring some relief to us residents. Now this report shows that it will also save Maharashtra thousands of crores, so we expect the state government to act quickly to retire these units, instead of trying to prolong their life."
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