The problem of polluted air has been a major area of concern for India, with the most common sources of pollution being household air pollution, motor vehicles, industrial facilities, resuspension of dust from ground and forest fires. The health impacts associated with the degrading air quality are grave- increased air pollution is associated with an increase in respiratory infections, especially in children; increased morbidity and mortality, due to cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases even Covid-19.
According to a report by WHO at least 21 of the world’s 30 most polluted cities with the highest annual levels of air pollution are in India. To tackle the problem of air pollution the Government launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in 2019, which calls upon cities to develop city-level Clean Air Action Plans to implement mitigation strategies for ambient PM concentrations. The national capital of Delhi along with its adjoining states appears prominently on the list of cities for NCAP as PM 10 and PM 2.5
levels have increased to dangerous levels in the region resulting in higher incidence of respiratory diseases. IPCA, understanding its responsibility towards curbing the problem of air pollution and has endeavoured to promote and utilise innovative solutions for air pollutions in the National Capital region.
Services provided by IPCA
IPCA has helped to accelerate the action on Air pollution by providing solutions through its various action domains including:
i. Installation of air purifying units called WAYU -Wind augmentation purifying unit.
ii. Air quality monitoring and testing services (indoor and ambient)
iii. Research and Development for solution to air pollution.
iv. Validation and efficiency testing services for Air Purifiers and other solutions.
v. Development of green belt and parks.
vi. Undertake CSR projects on behalf of corporates for air pollution intervention.
Innovative solution for air pollution
IPCA collaborated with Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) and GSK (GlaxoSmithKline) Consumer Healthcare’s CSR initiative, to install the indigenously produced air purification devices at different traffic intersection in Gurugram under “Project Air Care” (PAC). Another such collaboration with Goodyear India Ltd. was undertaken n Ballabhgarh, Faridabad, where similar air purifiers have been installed at high footfall areas with multiple sources of air pollution under project “Solution of Air Pollution” (SAP). The air purifiers installed are known as Wind Augmentation Air puriFying Units (WAYU) and IPCA undertakes all processes including installation, maintenance, monitoring of standards and future developments and customisation.
Assessment of Indoor Air Quality
IPCA provides unbiased Air Quality Testing & Consultation services for monitoring of Indoor Air Quality as the risk of exposure to air pollutants is many folds higher in indoor settings than in ambient air. IPCA uses finest range (Gold standard) of calibrated instruments and national and international standards to investigate, identify and providing performance measurement solutions for improvement in indoor air quality.
Our clients include: Goodyear India Ltd., GSK Asia Ltd., DLF Foundation, Mysen, FICCI, Magneto, Honeywell, DLF, APT Technology, Samsung, and CPCB to name a few.
Development of Green Belt
In the year 2020-21, the development of Green belt was taken up on behalf of Goodyear India Limited. The endeavour aims to enhance air quality and visual aesthetics by planting tree and shrub.