This Diwali, city records poorest air quality in last seven years
   Date :26-Oct-2022
 
city records poorest air quality
 
 
 
Staff Reporter
In the last seven years, citizens have breathed the most polluted air this Diwali, revealed the data released by Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) on Tuesday.
‘The Hitavada’ analysed the CPCB data of air quality index (AQI) -- a tool which measures the ambient concentrations of pollutants. On next day of Diwali (October 25), the level of Particulate Matter (PM) was recorded at 2.5, which was the prominent pollutant, touched the ‘poor’ quality with average 201 and varied between 302-391 throughout the day.
As per the data available on CPCB website, the pollutant-level touched the 201 mark between 1 pm and 2 pm. Whereas, the country-wide AQI bulletin issued by CPCB on Tuesday mentioned the air quality of Nagpur city ‘Moderate’ with its level at 198.
The restriction of time (8 pm to 10 pm) by the government for bursting fire-crackers last year caused less air pollution on post Diwali day. Similarly, due to pandemic and lockdown in 2021, the ban on fire-crackers reported huge dip in pollution level. Meanwhile, due to restrictions in last two years, the pollution level decreased drastically in Nagpur city post Diwali.
However, the AQI data for the year 2021 and 2022 are also not available on the CPCB website. In 2019, on post Diwali (October 28), the AQI was recorded 103 which was moderate.
In 2018, 2017 and 2016 also, the AQI was 170, 192 and 151 respectively. In last seven years, this Diwali recorded the AQI first time at poor category.
Even the Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station (CAAQMS) which is responsible for monitoring of city’s air quality is situated in Civil Lines. And the area is most greenest and pollution free place in the city. If Civil Lines area reported PM2.5 level at 201 then the air quality of other places like Sadar, Mahal, Wadi etc. will be more severe. “Sudden dip in minimum temperature is might be a reason behind the poor air quality of the city. But bursting fire-crackers is another reason behind high pollution,” said a senior official of Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) to The Hitavada. In Maharashtra, on post Diwali night, Nagpur was fifth polluted city after Aurangabad (253), Chandrapur (246), Navi Mumbai (234) and Mumbai (212).
According to Surbhi Jaiswal, Team Lead, Green Vigil Foundation, “The air quality of Nagpur city got doubled on post Diwali whereas the AQI on October 23 and 24 was 101 which was Moderate.”
Jaiswal said, “AQI level crossing 200 at Civil Lines area which is most greenest place in the city is very alarming. Moreover, a city’s air quality can only be determined by monitoring throughout the city and one station data is never a representative for the any city.”