For the first time this February, residents of Jamshedpur and outskirts will get to know pollution levels in air and its two rivers from an independent source outside of the Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board.

In February, voluntary outfit Yugantar Bharti, which campaigns for the environment, will release reports of pollution levels at Subernarekha and Kharkai, considered the region's twin lifelines, and ambient air quality in Adityapur industrial area, Bistupur and Mango.

Yugantar Bharti will release findings not only on the web, but also hand over copies to East Singhbhum DC Amit Kumar, pollution control board and the media.

As a first step in this direction, the outfit on Tuesday launched its analytical and environmental engineering mobile laboratory from near the residence of minister Saryu Roy at J-Road, Bistupur.

The aim of the mobile lab, which has seven trained personnel and equipment, is to collect samples from various points at the two rivers and measure ambient air quality at the three spots till January 14. Then, the samples will be tested and reports prepared.

The NGO already has a lab in Sidraul near Ranchi accredited by the state pollution control board, National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories and the ISO.

"Some samples will be tested at the mobile lab, some at our Ranchi lab. We expect results to be compiled by February first week. It will be made public in our website and before the media. We will hand over the reports, specifying the adverse health effects due to pollution, to East Singhbhum DC and state pollution control board officials," said Ashok Goyal, senior functionary of Yugantar Bharti.

Pollution level in water will be measured on parameters such as total dissolved solids (TDS), total hardness, nitrates, sulphates, fluorides, chlorides, chemical oxygen demand, dissolved oxygen, total alkalinity and biological oxygen demand. The parameters for ambient air quality are sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter (less than 10 microns and less than 2.5 microns).

"Before this initiative, we have collected samples of air and water in the past and submitted reports to the state pollution control board. But this is the first time that we will submit a comprehensive report," Goyal added.

The NGO will celebrate Subernarekha Mahotsava, an annual event to promote river conservation, on January 14 on the confluence of Kharkai and Subernarekha in Sonari and hold a green seminar in Bistupur on January 15.