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Time of India
5 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
‘Isotopic study of dust particles undertaken to understand their impact on environment'
With several cities in the state being hotspots of air pollution, Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB) has initiated some necessary steps to reduce the load and ensure a safe environment for people. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In an exclusive interview by B K Mishra, BSPCB chairman Devendra Kumar Shukla has said the board has recently launched an isotopic study of dust particles in collaboration with National Institute of Oceanography, Goa, for identifying their source. Excerpts: Bihar is ranked among one of the most polluted regions in the world. Why? Some pockets of Bihar are certainly considered hotspots of air pollution mainly due to the large concentration of dust particles in atmosphere, but due to the recent initiatives of the BSPCB, the position has improved considerably. Recently released World Air Quality Report, 2025, by Swiss firm IQAir has shown signs of improvement in several towns. Notably, Patna's position has improved significantly, dropping from 20th place in 2023 to 37th this year. What initiatives have been taken by the board to combat air pollution? Most recently, the board, in collaboration with National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), has undertaken an isotopic study of dust particles in the air to understand their sources, transport and impact on the environment. The NIO has already started collecting samples of dust particles from Patna region in the first phase. After collecting samples from different parts of the state, the work will focus on using isotopic ratios, particularly Sr and Nd isotopes, to trace the origins of the dust particles, especially those transported from river Ganga. Q. You are also making some studies in collaboration with the IITs? A. Earlier, last year, the board started the study of dust particles in three most polluted cities of the state, namely, Patna, Muzaffarpur and Gaya, in collaboration with the IITs. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The study will identify the "seasonal mass concentration level of PM2.5 and PM10 in ambient air" of the extended urban areas of the thee cities. PM 2.5 and PM 10 are minute particles present in the air, and exposure to these is harmful to health. Real-time source apportionment studies help identify factors, such as vehicles, dust, biomass burning, and emissions from industries, responsible for an increase in air pollution in an area. The study on dust particles of Patna region is likely to be completed this year. What about water pollution in the state? Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali scheme of the state has not only provided the people with drinking water supply but also enhanced the rate of groundwater recharge. About 1.85 lakh hectare area has benefited under eco-restoration scheme with focus on watershed development. Further, more than 3,500 ahar pynes (a traditional water management and irrigation system) will be restored under the fourth agricultural road map of the state. All these will result in the total groundwater reserve of 34.15 BCM, of which 30.95 BCM can be extracted. At present, only 14.1 BCM of groundwater is being extracted. Hence, there is no problem of groundwater pollution in 473 blocks of the state. Do you think groundwater is being misused in urban areas? As many areas of the state are water-surplus, people are in habit of misutilising this resource. But, its overexploitation can be checked by introducing water meter in the supply system. People will try to save water, if they have to pay for it.
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
‘Patna's book culture remains robust'
1 2 3 Despite the rise of the internet, smartphones and digital media, book readership remains steady, eminent litterateur and Sahitya Akademi Award winner Arun Kamal tells TOI's B K Mishra in an interview. Excerpts: How would you describe the book market in Patna? The book market in Patna and other cities in Bihar has always been robust. In fact, Patna ranks among the top five or six cities in the country in terms of revenue generated from book sales. The number of people across age groups reading books in Bihar is still higher than in many other states. What is the current state of the publishing industry in Bihar? Patna, with its rich literary tradition, has been a pioneer in publishing books and magazines, especially in Hindi. Publishers such as Rajkamal Prakashan, Vani Prakashan, Setu Prakashan, Motilal & Banarsidas, Dastak Sahitya, Anupam Prakashan and Bharti Bhawan have consistently published widely-read titles that sell briskly across the country. Moreover, major national publishers like Oxford, Orient Blackswan (formerly Orient Longman), Rupa Publications and India Book House have had established branches in the city for several decades. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo Has online book shopping affected local book sales? Not at all. If anything, it has empowered readers by giving them better access to information. They can explore a wide range of titles online from the comfort of home and then decide whether to buy from a local shop or order online, especially if a particular title is not available locally. Do people still frequent libraries these days? Visits to libraries have certainly declined, but not due to a lack of interest. It is largely because libraries today often lack good, up-to-date books. Even reputed institutions such as Sinha Library, Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library and Patna University Library are no longer in ideal shape. Readers often fail to find recently published works in genres like literary fiction, history and biography. What can be done to promote printed books and encourage reading habits? Bookstalls should be set up at key public locations like airports, railway station waiting halls and hospitals. In the US, it is not uncommon to see nurses reading books when not attending to patients. Retired teachers should be given free access to public libraries, allowing them to spend their leisure hours in the company of books. Such measures would not only promote book sales but also help in nurturing a reading culture in society.
