- 04 December, 2024
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| Designation: |
Chief Scientist
|
| Email Id: | ps_rao[at]neeri[dot]res[dot]in |
| Qualification: | M.Tech(Civil/Env Engg), B.Tech(Chem Engg), LEAD Fellow |
| Specialization: |
Air Pollution Control and Environmental Management
|
| Address: |
Verticals-4: Environmental Impact Assessment, Audit and Planning, NEERI, Nagpur
|
| Biodata: |
| Sr. No. | Project Name |
|---|---|
| 1 |
Performance Evaluation of Air Pollution Control Systems (APC) of Uttam Galva Metallics Ltd., Wardha
Main Objective of the study is to carry out air quality monitoring and source apportionment study in Uttam Galva region. Study the possibility of reducing air pollution in Uttam Galva air Quality management approach. |
| 2 |
Performance Evaluation of Air Pollution Control System (APC) of Raymond UCO Denim Pvt. Ltd., Yavatmal
To conduct the performance evaluation of all Air Pollution Control system of Raymond UCO Denim Pvt. Ltd. |
| 3 |
Short Term and Localised Air Pollution Control System for Crematoria, Dump site and others in Delhi
|
| 4 |
Carrying Capacity Study for Environmentally Sustainable Mining in Keonjhar, Sundargarh and Mayurbhanj Districts of Odisha
The objective of study is to assess the environmental, ecological, geo-hydrological as well as socio-economic impact of iron ore mining activity. |
| 5 |
Air Quality Monitoring and Emission Source Apportionment studies for Ten cities of Maharashtra
|
| Sr. No. | Publication Name |
|---|---|
| 1 |
Managing future air quality in megacities: co-benefits assessement for delhi
Urbanization, population and economic growth in Indian megacities like Delhi have resulted in an increase in energy and transportation demand leading to severe air pollution and related health impacts, as well as to the rapid growth in the greenhouse gas emissions. In this study, an integrated assessment of air quality and climate policiesfor Indiancities –withaparticularfocuson NationalCapital TerritoryofDelhi,hasbeencarriedout.We have developed emission inventory of air pollutants and greenhouse gases for the base year (2010) and evaluated the impact ofcurrent policieson emission projections by2030 in the business-as-usual scenario. Emissions of coarse and ?neparticulate matter areprojected to be51% and 15%higher in2030 as compared to present. As the current legislations do not indicate progress towards the achievement of the Indian National Ambient Air Quality Standards in Delhi, we explored the e?ectiveness of additional emission control strategies with either advanced end-of-pipe emission controls or low carbon policies. Relative to the baseline scenario, the set of alternativepolicystrategieswouldreduceemissionsrapidlyin2030.Theresultsrevealedthatairqualitypolicies under various scenarios could also have co-bene?ts of reducing carbon emissions. At the same time, the results suggest that low carbon policies would be more e?cient to cut emissions as compared to advanced end-of-pipe emission control policies. However, their implementation could be limited by the availability of clean fuels. In the climate policy scenario, carbon emission in 2030 is estimated to decrease by 19% relative to baseline. Additional controls combined with low carbon policies like controlling non-industrial emissions create an opportunity to further enhance the scope for co-bene?ts and to attain the air quality standards in Delhi. |
| 2 |
Air Quality Index - A Comparative Study for Assessing the Status of Air Quality
Air quality Index is a tool for identify the present scenario of air quality. Six different methods of estimating Air quality Index (AQI) based on four pollutants synergistic effect viz., PM10, PM2.5, SO2 and NO2 were used to compare the prevailing ambient air quality in the study region. The average concentration of PM10, PM2.5, SO2 and NO2 are in 82.59, 61.61, 27.19 and 3.92 μg/m3 in was observed in May June respectively. Similarly the levels in June-July 2014 were observed as 57.96, 43.27, 14.24 and 2.54 μg/m3 respectively while the concentration in July-August 2014 were found as 39.37, 32.89, 10.44 and 2.92μg/m3 respectively, in August-September 2014 were 30.08, 32.53, 12.18 and 2.90 μg/m3 respectively and the levels in Sept-Oct 2014 were found as PM10, PM2.5, SO2 and NO2 are in 93.66, 94.04, 23.39 and 6.85 μg/m3 respectively. Seasonal and daily AQI calculation revealed that air quality status in the study region under various classes ranging from good, moderate, satisfactory and unacceptable class for different AQI calculation. |
| 3 |
Managing future air quality in megacities: Emission inventory and scenario analysis for the Kolkata Metropolitan City, India
|
| 4 |
Real time Ambient Air Quality Status During Diwali Festival in Central, India
In India, festivals are celebrated with lot of enthusiasm and Diwali is the major festival of light. In this festival, houses are illuminated by lights and sky is illuminated by fireworks. These fireworks though create lot of amusement but also pollute the atmosphere in terms of air pollution. The continuous air pollution monitoring was undertaken during Diwali festival (2014) at residential site NEERI, Nagpur. Air quality parameters were compared with CPCB standard. On Diwali day, PM 10 and PM 2.5 concentration achieve its highest value of 900 µg/m 3 and 950 respectively µg/m 3. This high concentration is maintained in atmosphere for two days of this festival in atmosphere which is approximately 8-9 times more than that regulatory standard. These particles carry all the components of the cracker including heavy metals, alkali metals, alkaline earth and change the atmosphere with positive and negative ions apart from impaction of sulfur and other acid gases to the atmosphere. |
| 5 |
Effects of unregulated anthropogenic activities on mixing ratios of volatile organic air pollutants
During the months of October to November, many important festivals are celebrated in India. Celebration of these festivals are marked by extensive use of fireworks or pyrotechnics, bonfire, incense burning, open air community cooking, and temporary eateries using crude fuel such as coal, wood, kerosene, cow dung, burning of raw/semiwood, and coconut shells. The present study deals with the influence of these unregulated anthropogenic activities on ambient mixing level of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), especially some carbonyl compounds. The study was undertaken in the metropolitan city of Kolkata, India, with very high population density, which is even higher during festival period. The average total carbonyl level at different sites in Kolkata varied from 134.8 to 516.5 μg m(-3) in pre-festival season, whereas in post-festival season the same varied from 252.2 to 589.3 μg m(-3). Formaldehyde to acetaldehyde ratio altered from 0.62 in pre-festival season to 1.78 in post-festival season. Diurnal variation also altered, indicating variation in source composition of carbonyls. The total ozone forming potential calculated for all 14 carbonyls in pre-festival season increased by 35% in post-festival season. The effect of anthropogenic activities typical to the event of Diwali night characterized by intense execution of pyrotechnics resulted in significantly high level of carbonyl VOCs. Principal component analysis study for the event of Diwali shows clear contribution of the event on certain carbonyl VOCs. The results indicate elevated primary emissions of these pollutants and also their effect on formation of secondary pollutants. The study emphasizes the need of generating awareness among the communities in society as well as need for regulations to minimize the emissions and related hazards to the extent possible |
| 6 |
Worldwide distribution of polyclyclicaromatic hydrocarbons in urban road dust.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is considered as one of the most important groups of organic environmental contaminants due to their toxicity, persistence and ubiquity. PAHs have been monitored in urban road dust at various locations worldwide in about last three decades. Resuspension of road dust containing PAHs is an important route of PAHs exposure to humans. This paper collates the available information on reported concentrations of PAHs in urban road dust at various locations worldwide classified as industrial, residential, traffic, city and commercial and other areas, reported sources of PAHs in urban road dust and related interpretations. Also, available information has been reviewed and documented country-wise. Variation in PAHs concentrations over various worldwide locations have been scrutinized and interestingly, most of the reported average PAHs concentrations were found to be distributed within a very narrow range of values, implying only little variation in average PAH concentrations in spite of great distances between locations, climatic variation and differences in anthropogenic activity. |
| 7 |
Air Quality Index - A Comparative Study for Assessing the Status of Air Quality
Air quality Index is a tool for identify the present scenario of air quality. Six different methods of estimating Air quality Index (AQI) based on four pollutants synergistic effect viz., PM 10 , PM 2.5 , SO 2 and NO 2 were used to compare the prevailing ambient air quality in the study region. The average concentration of PM10, PM 2.5 , SO 2 and NO 2 are in 82.59, 61.61, 27.19 and 3.92 µg/m 3 in was observed in May June respectively. Similarly the levels in June-July 2014 were observed as 57.96, 43.27, 14.24 and 2.54 µg/m 3 respectively while the concentration in July-August 2014 were found as 39.37, 32.89, 10.44 and 2.92µg/m 3 respectively, in August-September 2014 were 30.08, 32.53, 12.18 and 2.90 µg/m 3 respectively and the levels in Sept-Oct 2014 were found as PM 10 , PM 2.5 , SO 2 and NO 2 are in 93.66, 94.04, 23.39 and 6.85 µg/m 3 respectively. Seasonal and daily AQI calculation revealed that air quality status in the study region under various classes ranging from good, moderate, satisfactory and unacceptable class for different AQI calculation |
| 8 |
Impact assessment of tourists on noise environment in heritage site
|
| 9 |
Real time Ambient Air Quality Status During Diwali Festival in Central, India
In India, festivals are celebrated with lot of enthusiasm and Diwali is the major festival of light. In this festival, houses are illuminated by lights and sky is illuminated by fireworks. These fireworks though create lot of amusement but also pollute the atmosphere in terms of air pollution. The continuous air pollution monitoring was undertaken during Diwali festival (2014) at residential site NEERI, Nagpur. Air quality parameters were compared with CPCB standard. On Diwali day, PM 10 and PM 2.5 concentration achieve its highest value of 900 µg/m 3 and 950 respectively µg/m 3. This high concentration is maintained in atmosphere for two days of this festival in atmosphere which is approximately 8-9 times more than that regulatory standard. These particles carry all the components of the cracker including heavy metals, alkali metals, alkaline earth and change the atmosphere with positive and negative ions apart from impaction of sulfur and other acid gases to the atmosphere |
| 10 |
Inter-seasonal and spatial distribution of ground-level greenhouse gases(CO2, CH4, N2O) over Nagpur in India and their management roadmap
Ground level concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) were monitored over three seasons i.e. post-monsoon (September-October), winter (January-February) and summer (May-June) for 1 year during 2013-2014 in Nagpur city in India. The selected gases had low to moderate variation both spatially (residential, commercial, traffic intersections, residential cum commercial sites) and temporally (at 7:00, 13:00; 18:00 and 23:00 h in all three seasons). Concentrations of gases were randomly distributed diurnally over city in all seasons and there was no specific increasing or decreasing trend with time in a day. Average CO2 and N2O concentrations in winter were higher over post-monsoon and summer while CH4 had highest average concentration in summer. Observed concentrations of CO2 were predominantly above global average of 400 ppmv while N2O and CH4 concentrations frequently dropped down below global average of 327 ppbv and 1.8 ppmv, respectively. Two tailed Student’s ‘t’ test indicated that post-monsoon CO2 concentrations were statistically different from summer but not so from winter while difference between summer and winter concentrations was statistically significant (P<0.05). CH4 concentrations in all seasons were statistically at par to each other. In case of N2O, concentrations in post-monsoon were statistically different from summer but not so from winter, while difference between summer and winter concentrations was statistically significant (P<0.05). Average ground level concentrations of the gases calculated for 3 seasons together were higher in commercial areas. Environmental management priorities vis a vis greenhouse gas emissions in the city are also discussed. |
| 11 |
Prediction of remotely sensed cloud related parameters over an inland urban city of India
Artificial neural network (ANN) is a mathematical model useful for forecasting on the any type of available data. This tool is not only useful in environment but also covers wide ranges of applicability. Utilizing this model, a study was carried out in an inland area of Nagpur for forecasting satellite-derived cloud parameters. Nine ANN architects are developed based on five pollutant parameter (aerosol optical depth, RSPM, SPM, SO2, NOx), meteorological and some cloud parameter. The models are used to simulate concentration of pollutants as well as the forecast and validation of cloud top temperature, cloud ice water path and cloud liquid water path during different seasons (winter, pre-monsoon and post-monsoon). Models based on back-propagation neural network were tested using the collected data of study area. The ANN models were trained using gradient descent algorithms to check the robustness and adaptability of the models. ANN models based on both satellite and ground-based data variables demonstrate the best performance and are skilled at resolving patterns of pollutant dispersion to the atmosphere during 2006–2013 for Nagpur city |
| 12 |
Prediction and Examination of Seasonal Variation of Ozone with Meteorological parameter Through Artificial Neural Network
The present study focused on seasonal relations and predictions of the ozone (O3) coupled with NO2 and meteorology. Monitoring of ozone concentration throughout year shows an increasing trend during summer and a decreasing trend in the winter season. A comparison between three types of ANN; multilayer perceptron trained (MLP) with back-propagation, radial basis functions (RBF) and generalized regression neural network (GRNN) for short prediction of ozone are conclusively demonstrated. The model results are validated with observations from next monsoon. Based on the model's performance, the MLP back propagation model gives the best correlation between observed and predicted ozone concentrations than other models. Performance assessment parameters considered in the study also indicates that MLP is the best-fit model for prediction of ozone concentration throughout the year |
| 13 |
Managing Future Air Quality in Megacities: A case study for Delhi
Megacities in Asia rank high in air pollution at the global scale. In many cities, ambient concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) have been exceeding both the WHO interim targets as well as respective national air quality standards. This paper presents a systems analytical perspective on management options that could efficiently improve air quality at the urban scale, having Delhi as a case study. We employ the newly developed GAINS-City policy analysis framework, consisting of a bottom up emission calculation combined with atmospheric chemistry-transport calculation, to derive innovative insights into the current sources of pollution and their impacts on ambient PM2.5, both from emissions of primary PM as well as precursors of secondary inorganic and organic aerosols. We outline the likely future development of these sources, quantify the related ambient PM2.5 concentrations and health impacts, and explore potential policy interventions that could effectively reduce environmental pollution and resulting health impacts in the coming years. The analysis demonstrates that effective improvement of Delhi's air quality requires collaboration with neighboring States and must involve sources that are less relevant in industrialized countries. At the same time, many of the policy interventions will have multiple co-benefits on development targets in Delhi and its neighboring States. Outcomes of this study, as well as the modelling tools used herein, are applicable to other urban areas and fast growing metropolitan zones in the emerging Asian regions |
| 14 |
Particulate and Gases Pollution Control during Ldling Condition of Vehicles at Traffic Intersections: A Case Study for Nagpur City
Traffic intersections are major contributors for built-up of emissions of air pollutants like PM10, PM2.5, SO2 and NOx from automobiles. The study has been carried out for Nagpur, third largest city in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Emissions of PM10, PM2.5, SO2 and NOx quantified for one month, and control studies from motor vehicles during idling condition at a traffic signal were carried out at three foremost traffic signals of the city. The selected traffic intersections are Law College Square, Medical Square, and Shankar Nagar square. In this study selected parameters Air Metrics measured PM10 PM2.5 SO2 and NOx and followed by titrimetric gaseous impinger system and control of the same assessed by bench scale air pollution control (BAPC) system. Reduction percentages from the BAPC system were obtained as 57.68 & 47.65 for PM10 and PM2.5 respectively whereas for SO2, 70.55 and for NOx, 54.53 obtained |
| 15 |
Particulate and Gases Pollution Control During Idling Condition of Vehicles at Traffic Intersections: A Case Study for Nagpur City
Traffic intersections are major contributors for built-up of emissions of air pollutants like PM10, PM2.5, SO2 and NOx from automobiles. The study has been carried out for Nagpur, third largest city in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Emissions of PM10, PM2.5, SO2 and NOx quantified for one month, and control studies from motor vehicles during idling condition at a traffic signal were carried out at three foremost traffic signals of the city. The selected traffic intersections are Law College Square, Medical Square, and Shankar Nagar square. In this study selected parameters Air Metrics measured PM10 PM2.5 SO2 and NOx and followed by titrimetric gaseous impinger system and control of the same assessed by bench scale air pollution control (BAPC) system. Reduction percentages from the BAPC system were obtained as 57.68 & 47.65 for PM10 and PM2.5 respectively whereas for SO2, 70.55 and for NOx, 54.53 obtained |
| Sr. No. | Achievement / Award | Awarded By |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Er.Mrs. Padma S.Rao- Member of Steering committee of Central Board of Worker Education, Nagpur since 2012 onwards
|
- |
| 2 |
Er. Mrs. Padma S.Rao- Subject experts of science research scheme in Kerala State Council for Science and technology since 2012 onwards
|
- |
| 3 |
Er. Mrs. Padma S.Rao- ISO 14001 EMS Audit, ISO 14001 LEAD AUDITOR - IRCA ACCREDITED, UK SINCE 2010
|
IRCA |
| 4 |
Er. Mrs. Padma S.Rao- Fellow of The Rockefeller Foundation Programme Leadership in Environment, and Development LEAD, USA, Cohort 8, since 2001
|
- |
| 5 |
Er. Mrs. Padma S.Rao- Senate Member of IIIT, Nagpur, since 2019-20
|
- |
View Biodata [1.04 MB]