TRICHY: Trichy has achieved the ninth position in the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC), leading the state. However, despite focused efforts to tackle air pollution, the city is yet to enter the top five nationally. The lack of a robust system to manage pollution from construction and demolition (C&D) sites, the absence of a C&D waste recycling facility, and emissions from non-compliant vehicles are significant barriers to progress.
As commercial and residential projects rise across the city, older buildings are being demolished to create new space. The Trichy corporation employs machinery and sanitary workers for daily road cleaning, yet waste from trucks servicing construction sites undermines these cleanliness initiatives. Dust, along with wet soil and construction materials spilling onto roads, contributes to silt accumulation on major routes. Areas such as Thillai Nagar, Sastri Road, Thennur, and Cantonment lack regulation from both the local authorities and the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB).
While state highways and corporation roads receive both manual and mechanical cleaning, national highways (NHs) in the city still have unaddressed silt. “Poorly maintained vehicles, especially autorickshaws, are degrading air quality. It’s essential to check the Pollution under Control (PuC) certificates for such vehicles,” commented S. Sivakumar, a mechanic from Palakkarai. The action plan for the clean air program created by the TNPCB in 2021 encourages businesses to cut reliance on diesel generators and avoid using firewood in small restaurant kitchens; however, officials acknowledge that enforcing these stringent rules is challenging. “Construction site materials must be covered to prevent spillage. Vehicles should be maintained to avoid residual materials on roads that contribute to airborne dust. Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) have been urged to educate the public about vehicular emissions,” added a senior official from the TNPCB.
