A REPORT

Akshar is a part of Young Advocates for Clean Air (YACA) program. The aim of this program is to build
a sustainable network of youth from high schools in Kolkata for advocating on workable solutions
towards improving air quality of the city. Around 12 schools are a part of this program. Under this
program Akshar will get funds from CEE to create a vertical garden in the school.

Today’s program included:

1. Felicitation of the participating students and teachers who were a part of this program.
2. Talk by Professor Sulekha Chattopadhyay from California Environmental Protection Agency.

The program started by a welcome speech by Ms. Patti Hoffman. She is the present U.S Consul-
General for Kolkata

She spoke about the unhealthy air quality of Kolkata which ranks next to Delhi in terms of air quality
index.
 Why did the American Consul General’s office take up this project?

This year in the United States, the U.S Government announced that every year they will celebrate Air
Quality Awareness Week in the month April to make the global citizens aware of the hazards of Global
Warming and air pollution.

Thus in Kolkata, CEE with the U.S Consul General’s office took up this project with 12 schools.

Talk by Professor Sulekha Chattopadhyay:

Remember how Volkswagon was caught tampering with emission control indicators in their cars? Dr.
Sulekha Chattopadhayay was part of the group who were the whistle blowers.

Prof. Chattopadhayay, a Fulbright Fellow, grow up in Pune, went to study in US. She procured her
doctoral degree in Physics from California Institute of Technology (she joked about the fact that
Sheldon Cooper of Big-bang Theory works there!!!)

She spoke about:

1. Types of air pollution

2. Climate change due to Air Pollution
3. Freak weather conditions due to climate change
4. Economic backlash due to tremendous fall in air quality
5. Heath hazards related to air pollution
6. Last but not the least, the role of students and community as stake holders.

She used models, visuals and videos which made her talk extremely engrossing!

JOBS Emissions Pollution Economic effect:

 Reduced worker
productivity
 Severe droughts and floods
 Decreased agricultural
output

Note:

There was an interactive session between the experts/scholars and students. In this session Antara
Dasgupta asked a question to Prof. Chattopadhyay.

Her question was, “Though life style changes and community participation can bring about
sustainability, what is the role of MNCs and big cooperate houses that have a bigger role in
environmental degradation? For example though plastic straws cause major marine pollution, what
about large industrial plastic nets used for fishing? Are they not more hazardous?”

Hearing her speak, the Professor asked her name, age and school. The professor said that she simply
amazed to hear such an original, mature and very relevant question! The whole auditorium applauded
for Antara!

The Nature Club of Akshar had done some surveys using the Air Quality Index Machine to assess the
air quality in and around our school. The students shared their findings and observations in the
program.

Survey 1
TIME LOCATION PM 2-5 PM 10 QUALITY

1:23 basketball court 7/8 - 5 27 - 34/38 good-satisfactory

1:35 marble factory 7 - 15 25-75 good-satisfactory

1:42 Outside keventers 27-47 191-240 poor

1:46 petrol pump 17-30 120-130 poor

1:48 under the bridge 32 186polluted

Survey 2
TIME LOCATION PM 2-5 PM 10 QUALITY

1:47-1:51basketball court 14-16 46-68 satisfactory

1:55-
1:57 marble factory 13-10 33-40 satisfactory
2:00-
2:05 outside keventers 14-30 190-267 poor
2:07-
2:12 under bridge 13-16 50-110 satisfactory
2:17- poor
2:22 petrol pump 25-38 130-250 satisfactory