Official confirms lockdown improved air quality in Bengaluru
Bengaluru: The COVID-19 related lockdown has substantially improved the air quality of Bengaluru, taking it from satisfactory level to good, a senior state pollution control board offcial said here on Sunday. "During the course of the lockdown 19 problem, we reached good position from satisfactory.
It is between zero to 50 AQI (Air Quality Index) now. We have good quality air," the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board member secretary Basavaraj Patil told PTI. He said the indicator for knowing the air quality in
"If the AQI is zero to 50 then it is good. If it is 50 to 100 then it is satisfactory. 101 to 150 is moderate and if it is 151 to 200, then it is poor, he explained.
Patil said as per available recrods, there has been a 60 to 65 per cent reduction in pollution during the lockdown.
The city railway station and Peenya industrial area, which used to be among the areas with highest AQI, has seen pollution levels come down significantly, he said.
Another major contributor of pollution was construction activities, which too had ground to a halt due to the lockdown, resulting in zero dust emission.
Patil opined that the improved air quality would boost the immune system of the people.
"It will improve the immune system of people, including those who have breathing problems like asthma," he said.
He asked the public to learn lessons from the lockdown and later switch to sustainable means of transport such as public transport, walking and cycling,.
"We can still reduce the pollution load even after the lockdown is over," Patil said.
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IPL: Dubey, Payne named replacements for Akash Deep and Edwards
New Delhi (PTI): Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad have named Saurabh Dubey and David Payne as replacements for the injured Akash Deep and Jack Edwards respectively ahead of the IPL beginning on March 28.
India pacer Akash Deep has been ruled out of the tournament with a lumbar stress injury. He will remain under the supervision of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) medical team at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
"Saurabh, a left-arm pacer, will replace Akash at KKR. He will join KKR for Rs 30 lakh," an IPL media advisory stated.
Meanwhile, Chennai Super Kings have roped in Australian pacer Spencer Johnson in place of his injured compatriot Nathan Ellis.
Johnson, who played for Gujarat Titans and KKR previously, will join CSK for Rs 1.5 crore. The pacer has so far played 8 T20Is and 5 T20Is for Australia.
Saurabh, the 28-year-old Vidarbha bowler, who is yet to make his IPL debut, was previously part of the SRH squad.
England pacer Payne has been signed by SRH as a replacement for Jack Edwards, who has been sidelined with a foot injury.
Edwards had earlier been picked up by SRH for Rs 3 crore following a bidding contest with Chennai Super Kings.
Payne, who has featured in one ODI for England and played 233 T20 matches, claiming 304 wickets, will join SRH for Rs 1.5 crore.
