Patna: The city will get four new air pollution monitoring systems this year. Right now it has one, at the planetarium.

The Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB) is going to install the new systems this year in industrial, residential and hospital areas so that air pollution is measured in a more scientific way.

BSPCB chairman A.K. Ghosh said: "Patna's air quality is at present being measured through the lone air pollution monitoring system at the planetarium. As we all know, that the planetarium area is crowded with heavy traffic, judging the city based on the single air pollution monitoring system is faulty."

Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) also in its survey had said Patna is the fifth most-polluted city in the world. However, WHO has come to the data based on the single air pollution monitoring system and that too located in a heavy traffic zone.

"So, we have decided this time to install four air pollution monitoring systems in different zones for a representative sampling," Ghosh said, adding: "We have decided to install the four new air pollution monitoring systems in industrial, hospital, school and residential areas."

The existing air pollution monitoring system at the planetarium will be shifted to Eco Park, Ghosh said, adding: "The city's air quality could be better measured at the Eco Park."

The BSPCB is zeroing on the other sites where the new air pollution monitoring system will be installed, Ghosh said, adding: "One air pollution monitoring system will be installed at the BSPCB's office because on its rear side falls the industrial area. The second site could be somewhere near Patna Medical College and Hospital and the third in Rajeev Nagar (residential). Selection of the fourth site is on."

He added: "We have held discussion on this with the state environment and forest department minister and he have agreed on the project. For the two sites funds have been sanctioned in this budget and for the next two it will be sanctioned shortly. We have also initiated the tender process to install the new systems which will be finalised soon."

On WHO declaring Patna as the fifth most-polluted city in the world, Ghosh said: "First, this was surveyed based on a single air pollution monitoring system and, second, the data was of 2016. In the last two years, we have initiated several measures to improve the air quality of Patna. We have issued orders to brick-kiln owners, a major source of air pollution, to shift to the newer technology or shut down the establishment."

Ghosh said the BSPCB is at present organising a campaign among schoolchildren that started on May 17 and will last till June 5, making children brand ambassadors to check pollution.

"On Thursday, we had carried out such a campaign at Digha Ghat in which 200 children from St Paul's School took part. On Friday one such campaign was held at Pipa Pul Ghat and on Sunday we will be having a campaign at Gaighat. The mission to hold such campaigns is to make children aware of pollution," Ghosh said.