Thu Jan 08 17:39:51 UTC 2026: ### Visakhapatnam Grapples with Air Pollution Data Gap Amidst Rising Pollution Levels

The Story:

Visakhapatnam faces a critical lack of real-time air quality monitoring infrastructure despite a surge in pollution levels in late 2025 and early 2026. Currently, the city relies on a single Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring (CAAQM) station located at the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) office, while Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) norms mandate at least five stations across different location categories. This infrastructure deficit hinders the accurate assessment of air quality and undermines public safety measures, as residents rely on potentially incomplete data from the CPCB website.

The Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) acknowledges the shortfall and states that discussions are underway to establish the remaining four stations in a phased manner, each requiring an investment of over ₹1 crore. However, the reliance on eight manual stations provides limited real-time data, underscoring the urgency of addressing the CAAQM gap.

Key Points:

  • Visakhapatnam experienced a surge in air pollution during late 2025 and early 2026.
  • The city has only one real-time air quality monitoring station (CAAQM).
  • CPCB norms mandate at least five CAAQM stations for accurate data collection.
  • The lone CAAQM station is located at the GVMC office, classified as a high-traffic area.
  • APPCB is in talks to set up four additional stations, each costing over ₹1 crore.
  • The city has eight manual air quality monitoring stations, but they don’t provide real-time data.

Key Takeaways:

  • Visakhapatnam’s air quality monitoring infrastructure is inadequate, posing a risk to public health.
  • There is a significant discrepancy between CPCB guidelines and the city’s current monitoring capacity.
  • The lack of sufficient real-time data hinders effective pollution control and mitigation efforts.
  • The APPCB acknowledges the problem and has plans to address it, but implementation timelines remain unclear.
  • Citizens rely on potentially incomplete data, highlighting the need for transparency and improved monitoring capabilities.

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