AIR QUALITY DIPS IN PUNJAB; CRACKERS NOT LONE CULPRIT

BEYOND THE OBVIOUS Dayonday pollution spike lower this year; day saw record cases of stubble burning

PATIALA: Punjab’s air quality this Diwali was much worse than last year, shows data released by the state’s pollution monitoring agency.

But, if compared to a day before Diwali, the contribution of the festival marked by lights and firecrackers may even have fallen. And the underlying reason — burning of paddy stubble — has also contributed a significant deal.

Also, Air Quality Index (AQI) on Diwali last year went up from 130 a day before to 228, a 70% jump. This year, Diwali day saw AQI increasing to 328 from 265, an increase by 24%. And, this time on Diwali, the state recorded the highest number of straw-burning cases in a single day, despite a ban by the NGT and the government.

PATIALA: Punjab’s air quality this Diwali on October 19 was much worse than last year, when the festival fell on October 30, shows data released by the state’s pollution monitoring agency. However, if compared to a day before Diwali, the contribution of the festival marked by lights and firecrackers may even have fallen. And the underlying reason — burning of paddy stubble — has also contributed significantly.

On the face of it, despite restrictions on crackers — 6.30 to 9.30pm — the state witnessed a polluting Diwali, as the Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 328 in the ‘very poor’ bracket. AQI up to 100 is acceptable.Yet, data released by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) underlines that AQI on Diwali last year went up from 130 a day before to 228 on the day, “thereby recording an increase of 70% in pollution level”. This year,on the other hand, Diwali day saw AQI increasing to 328 as compared to 265 on the day before, “indicating an increase in pollution level by 24% only”, said the PPCB.

Also, this time on Diwali, the state recorded the highest number of straw-burning cases in a day, despite a ban. The number was 1,188, against average of 400 per day, showed satellite data.

In terms of AQI, the three continuous monitoring stations showed alarming levels — at Mandi Gobindgarh, it was recorded at 287, Ludhiana at 379, and Amritsar at 318. Level of Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) this year was higher than last year, “because of low level of air dispersion due to very low wind velocity and early harvesting of paddy”, according to the PPCB. PM10 was recorded at 592 in Ludhiana, whereas it is safe below 80. In Amritsar, it was 433; but 264 in Mandi Gobindgarh. PM2.5 figures were recorded for Amritsar at 231, Ludhiana at 290, and Mandi Gobindgarh at 156.

“On normal days, Mandi Gobindgarh is considered the most polluted city in terms of AQI, because of the iron industry. However, with no major bursting of crackers here, its air quality didn’t deteriorate much,” said a PPCB engineer. “Farmers also used Diwali as an opportunity to burn paddy straw, by showing it as incidental fire.” Here, too, the PPCB press release claimed a relative drop, though. Increase in AQI in Mandi Gobindgarh was noted as 17% this year on Diwali as compared to 163% last year. The spike in Ludhiana was 24% as compared to 50% last year.