Kolkata, Dec 13 || Environmentalist Somendra Mohan Ghosh has raised concerns over the rising air pollution level in Kolkata, especially in heritage site Victoria Memorial and eco-sensitive areas like the Maidan.
In the letter to the Union Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Ministry and West Bengal Environment Department, Ghosh pointed out that the city's Maidan, often referred to as Kolkata's lung, is indeed facing severe air pollution issues, exacerbated by the ongoing Metro Rail project near Victoria Memorial. Recently, the air quality in this heritage site has deteriorated to alarming levels, surpassing Delhi's pollution levels, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 342, which falls into the "very poor" to "hazardous" range.
According to the environmentalist, the main contributors to this pollution spike include biomass burning in and around Maidan areas, ongoing metro construction without eco-friendly practices, vehicle emissions, and the use of coal and firewood by roadside food stalls near the Esplanade bus stand.