Kolkata Plans Rose Water Mist for Air Quality, Drawing Critic Rebuke

West Bengal Municipal Affairs and Urban Development Minister Agnimitra Paul announced that rose water will be blended into mist sprayers on festival days and special occasions to tackle urban air pollution in Kolkata.

Official Plan

Writing on Facebook, Ms. Paul stated that the Kolkata Municipal Corporation already sprays moisture regularly in places with high pollution readings. She noted that London air often reaches very low pollution levels, whereas Kolkata's air rarely drops below 200 for most of the year. Adding the floral scent aims to lower dust levels while leaving a nice aroma during festive times like Kali Puja.

Critic Reaction

Environmentalist Somendra Mohan Ghosh dismissed the proposal, arguing that the city requires genuine action rather than surface-level fixes. He stated that the scent would fade quickly without solving core pollution issues. He pointed to old fuel-burning vehicles, roadside eateries using coal stoves, and accumulated road dust as the real problems that need attention, suggesting the deployment of dedicated units to wash streets and tree foliage instead.

Context

Central Pollution Control Board data put Kolkata's average air quality index at 165 on Sunday afternoon, placing it in the moderate band, though specific neighbourhoods such as Jadavpur and Bidhannagar touched poorer levels earlier in the week. Urban air quality management typically involves targeting major emission sources like traffic and construction dust rather than masking odours.