BHOPAL’S air quality has once again raised an alarm, with Paryavaran Parisar is emerging as the city’s most polluted location over the past week. Fresh data from the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board (MPPCB) shows that within a span of seven days, the area recorded poor to very poor Air Quality Index (AQI) levels on four days, underlining a worrying trend as winter pollution tightens its grip on the State capital. The most severe spike was recorded on January 10, when the AQI at Paryavaran Parisar shot up to 315, placing it firmly in the ‘very poor’ category. Even on other days, pollution levels failed to return to a healthy range, indicating persistent exposure to harmful air. Paryavaran Parisar, a pollution hotspot: According to monitoring data, Paryavaran Parisar recorded an AQI of 235 on January 9, followed by a sharp deterioration the next day.

 

After touching a very poor level on January 10, the AQI stood at 285 on January 11, remaining in the poor category. On January 12, data recorded till 4 pm showed an AQI of 201, suggesting only marginal improvement. PM2.5 remained the prominent pollutant on all these days. With four days of poor to very poor air quality within a single week, Paryavaran Parisar has clearly turned into a pollution hotspot, even as other monitoring stations such as TT Nagar and the Collectorate have largely remained in the moderate category during the same period. Several factors are at play: Earlier in the month, Bhopal had already witnessed a pollution spike during the New Year period. On January 1, AQI readings touched 278 at Paryavaran Parisar, 264 at the Collectorate, and 273 at TT Nagar, pushing air quality into the poor category across the city. Similar conditions persisted on January 2 and 3.

 

Explaining the reasons behind the rise, MPPCB Regional Officer Brajesh Sharma had said that increased vehicular movement, construction activity along with other conventional factors, significantly contribute to higher emissions. He also pointed out that winter-specific conditions such as low wind speed and temperature inversion trap pollutants close to the ground, preventing their dispersion and causing AQI levels to rise. A long-term risk for health: Health experts warn that prolonged exposure to PM2.5- fine particulate matter small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream- can have serious health consequences. Continuous inhalation of these particles can cause respiratory discomfort such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath, while also triggering eye irritation, throat infections, and headaches.

 

Over time, sustained exposure significantly increases the risk of chronic respiratory ailments like asthma and bronchitis, and can aggravate existing heart conditions, leading to a higher likelihood of cardiovascular diseases. Children, the elderly, and people with pre-existing lung or heart problems are considered especially vulnerable during periods of elevated PM2.5 levels. To address the issue, pollution control authorities have stressed the need for immediate mitigation measures. These include regular water sprinkling on roads to suppress dust, strict and frequent checking of Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates of vehicles, and better traffic management to reduce congestion-related emissions. Civic efforts under scrutiny as AQI stays poor: Despite the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) claiming to have intensified pollution control efforts, including regular water sprinkling on major roads, air quality levels across the city have shown little sign of improvement.

 

Officials maintain that sprinkling operations are being carried out as part of routine winter mitigation measures, especially in areas prone to high vehicular movement and road dust. However, the continued poor to very poor AQI readings, particularly at Paryavaran Parisar, suggest that these measures have so far failed to deliver tangible relief on the ground. Irregular implementation of the mitigation measures: Meanwhile, residents and daily commuters in several localities have raised concerns over the effectiveness and consistency of these interventions. Locals claim that while water sprinkling and other mitigation steps are occasionally visible, they are not conducted on a regular or sustained basis. Many allege that sprinkling is often limited to specific stretches and times of the day, leaving large areas uncovered and allowing dust to resettle quickly. Environmental observers also point out that irregular implementation of measures such as dust suppression and enforcement of pollution norms could be contributing to the continued high AQI trend. They stress that without consistent, city-wide execution of mitigation efforts, short-term actions by the civic body may have little impact on improving air quality.