Tamil Nadu to launch air quality stations and biodiversity index

The Tamil Nadu government has announced several environmental initiatives aimed at improving air quality and urban biodiversity. Environment Minister V. K. Rajeev stated that 80 sensor-based air quality monitoring stations will be established across the state to track temperature, moisture, and pollutants in real-time, with data shared via electronic display boards.

To bolster urban conservation, a City Biodiversity Index will be introduced across 24 municipal corporations at a cost of Rs 2 crore. Additionally, the state plans to convert 200 government and aided schools, along with five colleges, into ‘Blue Green Campuses’ annually with a budget of approximately Rs 53.75 crore to educate students on climate change.

Other measures include the deployment of five mobile environmental monitoring vehicles equipped with analytical devices for real-time tracking of air, water, and noise indices. The government also intends to provide incentives for industries that achieve voluntary green-rating certifications, ranging from Bronze to Platinum, to encourage sustainable industrial development.