Lockdown dips air pollution in the Chandigarh

Amarjot Kaur

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 25

The Covid-induced curfew has brought down the levels of air pollution in the city.

According to the Chandigarh Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the city recorded a 35 on the air quality index (AQI) on Wednesday showing a significant dip in particulate matter 10 (PM10) level — the lowest this year.

Commenting on the stark decline in city’s air pollution, TC Nautiyal, member secretary, CPCB, said: “Well, the decline in air pollution was expected, considering the lockdown, which has brought the city’s public transport to a staggering halt and people aren’t driving around either.”

Bagging a moderate score on the AQI with a 130 particulate matter 25 (PM25) on the first day of year 2020, the lowest pollution levels that the city recorded in the month of January was 48 on PM10, while the highest was 154 on PM25 on January 12. On February 21, the city recorded 37 as the AQI on PM10, clocking the lowest on the AQI during the second month of the year. With PM10 127, the maximum air pollution in the city during February was recorded on February 19.

In March, however, the pollution level has been dwindling between satisfactory and good, scoring an overall ‘green label’ on the AQI. The lockdown halted the movement of public transport and restricted that of private vehicles.