Darjeeling to join the list of most polluted cities of West Bengal

Current Context: According to the latest study published in the peer-reviewed journal ‘Atmospheric Environment’ by Bose Institute, Kolkata, and IIT Kanpur, Darjeeling may soon join the list of cities with air pollution levels higher than the national ambient air quality, rendering escape to the hill station from congested Kolkata to breathe fresher air meaningless.

• The study analysed PM10 levels in Darjeeling from 2009 to 2021 and found that in summer and winter, the concentration of PM10 particles exceeded the Indian standard of 60g/m³ (micrograms per cubic meter).
• The primary cause of this pollution was ultrafine components of PM10, specifically PM1 particles. The study projected that PM10 pollution in Darjeeling would reach about 63g/m³ of air in 2024, surpassing the Indian standard.
• It also identified the major sources of ultrafine particulate matter pollution, like vehicular emissions from tourism activities, biomass burning from roadside eateries and dust transport from the Indo-Gangetic Plain

Question:

Q.1 Which institute conducted the study on air pollution in Darjeeling along with Bose Institute, Kolkata?
a. IIT Delhi
b. IIT Kanpur
c. IIT Bombay
d. IIT Madras