Aurangabad: Aurangabad has earned the dubious distinction of being one of the most polluted cities in Maharashtra, with its air quality deteriorating by the day, thanks to unplanned growth, rising number of vehicles and absence of action plan.Moreover, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has found as many as 17 cities in the state, maximum in the country, including Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur and Nashik besides Aurangabad, violating the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).A total of 94 cities from 22 states have figured in the list prepared based on the air quality data obtained over a five-year period (2011 to 2015) under the National Air Quality Monitoring Programme. The list also has Jalna and Latur from Marathwada.All the listed cities have recorded higher levels of particulate matter with less than 10 m diameter (PM10) while some of them have recorded high concentration of sulphur dioxide (SO2).Following the CPCB's directives, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has asked the municipal bodies in the listed cities to prepare action plans. Thus far, Nagpur, Chandrapur, Amravati, Navi Mumbai and Ulhasnagar municipal bodies have submitted reports. The other cities are expected to file their reports soon.Aurangabad-based Geetanjali Kaushik, an air quality expert who is preparing a report as per MPCB and National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) guidelines for Aurangabad, Latur and Jalna, told TOI that it is crucial for smaller cities to work on an action plan before it is too late."Improving public transport, increasing the number of pollution under control (PUC) centres and CNG pumps, facilitating parking space for autos and taxis, use of bio-diesel and social campaigns are the key measures that cities can take to keep the PM10 levels under control," she said.Associate professor at the city-based Jawaharlal Nehru Engineering College Arvind Chel said the unplanned growth of metro cities has led to a huge problem in terms of maintaining air quality. "Smaller cities are also growing in the same way. It is imperative to act now so that we can keep the situation under control."In the 'Clean Air Maharashtra Resolve 2022' organised by NEERI, MPCB and IIT-Bombay in August this year, air pollution in the state was discussed and a decision to ask cities to prepare an action plan taken.

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