Kerala's air quality monitoring stations offline, manual testing underway

Authorities in Kerala have acknowledged that real-time air pollution monitoring equipment at Vyttila and Kaloor in Kochi is currently non-functional, disrupting the region's capacity to track air quality data. Officials confirmed that manual testing of air pollution levels is being conducted as an interim measure to monitor environmental conditions across the area.

The monitoring stations, which form part of Kerala's air quality surveillance network, are critical infrastructure for tracking pollutant levels and issuing public health advisories. The failure of the two automated systems represents a significant gap in the state's environmental monitoring capabilities during a period when air quality data is increasingly important for public health planning.

Among the three monitoring stations serving the Kochi region, only the facility at Eloor continues to function. However, this station also faces maintenance concerns, with officials noting that its annual maintenance contract expired approximately one year ago. The lapse in contractual services raises questions about the upkeep and longevity of the equipment.

The reliance on manual testing methods, while providing some level of oversight, is considerably less efficient than real-time automated monitoring systems, which offer continuous data collection and rapid alert capabilities. Authorities have not yet announced a timeline for restoring the non-functional stations or renewing maintenance contracts.