NGOs put up ‘breathing’ billboard to shed light on worsening AQI in city

Ludhiana: In a bid to shed light at the worsening air quality in Ludhiana, city-based NGOs on Wednesday put up a giant installation depicting faux lungs at the footpath outside BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School here.
The art installation titled ‘billboard that breathes’ have been put up by NGO EcoSikh in collaboration with Clean Air Punjab -- a citizens’ collective working on the issue of air pollution and supported by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU).
Environmentalist Gagnish Singh Khurana shared that this billboard is aimed at creating awareness and increasing conscious participation of the citizens, NGOs and government machinery in tackling air pollution in the city.
These white lungs have been created using high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, that are used in operation theatres, anti-pollution masks and other places to trap dust. These lungs have been fitted with fans that will suck in air to mimic the functioning of lungs while breathing.
Over the next few days, the particulate matter from dust pollution and vehicular emissions will begin getting trapped in the HEPA filters. This is expected to discolour these faux lungs, over time.
Dr Akashdeep, senior pulmonologist at DMC Ludhiana said, “Air pollution causes lung cancer, cardiovascular events, central nervous system dysfunctions, skin diseases, as well as respiratory disorders such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Asthma, and Bronchiolitis... We are in a health emergency the way the pollution levels are rising every day.”
As per Ludhiana Clean Air action plan, four continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations (CAAQMS) were to be installed in the district at various locations till March 2020 to measure the average AQI, but they weren’t installed.
“Citizen participation is essential in achieving clean air as we all require access to healthy air to live. This fact alone makes it necessary for all of us to diligently monitor the state of the air quality. The lung billboard serves as a reminder to reflect, act and modify our lifestyles,” said EcoSikh president Supreet Kaur, adding that they will plan campaigns around the lungs billboard to ensure the message reaches everyone in Ludhiana.