Jaipur: Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RSPCB) can now use PAVITRA, an air-pollution management and decision-support platform developed for India, to scientifically assess the impact of pollution-control measures on PM2.5 levels.At a workshop organised by IIT Bombay at RSPCB Friday, officials were trained to use the platform to identify pollution sources, estimate emissions and assess how interventions across sectors could improve air quality.The PAVITRA dashboard allows users to compare measures such as promoting LPG use and household electrification, reducing agricultural residue burning, and shifting small and medium industries to cleaner fuels and technologies.Experts said the platform combines emissions data with atmospheric modelling to estimate changes in PM2.5 concentrations under different scenarios. It can help identify priority pollution sources and support targeted air-quality action plans.The workshop included demonstrations of technical components such as Smog India, an emissions inventory, and the INMAP-PAVITRA and ISRM-PAVITRA models.IIT Bombay team included PAVITRA principal investigator Prof Chandramouli Venkataraman, project manager Priya Abhijit Chaudhary and other researchers. Co-principal investigator Prof Srinidhi Balasubramanian participated online.How PAVITRA Helps Track Air PollutionIdentifies: Pollution sourcesEstimates: EmissionsModels: PM2.5 changes under different scenariosCompares: Measures such as LPG use, electrification, residue-burning reduction and cleaner industrial fuelsSupports: Targeted air-quality action plans
