Air quality turns poor in city over a week after Diwali

Avneet Kaur

Jalandhar, November 17

Air quality is on a decline in the city. Over a week after the last mild showers, dryness in the air has started showing with smog and increase in the average particulate matter of 2.5 micrograms.

On Saturday, the Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 212 at 8 am and it shot up to 225 at 4 pm, putting the quality of air in the poor category. Air quality is measured by the level of the main pollutant in the air — particulate material 2.5 or PM 2.5 particles that measure less than 2.5 microns.

An AQI of under 100 is considered to be in the good category, which means the air pollution poses little or no risk. While AQI between 51-100 is satisfactory, 101-200 is moderate, 201-300 is poor, and 301-400 is very poor, while 401 and above is severe.

It was perhaps for the third time this month that the PM 2.5 level crossed 200. It was near Diwali, on November 7 and 8, when the AQI recorded was 219 and 273, respectively. While on Friday, it was recorded at 173.

Meanwhile, residents of the city had blamed local and state bodies for having failed to monitor major reasons behind the deteriorating air quality and giving a clean chit to industrial activities promoting air pollution.

They said the major causes of air pollution in the city were motor vehicle emissions, stubble burning in fields, illegal industrial activities and garbage burning which had an adverse effect on the health of the population, especially children, but the authorities concerned are least bothered to keep a tab over these activities.

Harbir Singh, Senior Environmental Engineer, Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), said: “Due to the unfavourable atmospheric conditions, the AQI had gone up.

He said due to the changing weather, the air quality might oscillate in the same category in the days to come, but residents need not to worry as it’s due to the changing weather.