LUCKNOW’S AIR QUALITY BETTER THAN LAST YEAR
The marked improvement in air quality directly linked with reduction in use of firecrackers
LUCKNOW : The Air Quality Index (AQI) of Lucknow a day after Diwali (Monday) was recorded at 305. While the good news is that it was much less than last year’s 412, the bad news is it was still very poor. The AQI over 300 comes under ‘very poor’ category while one above 400 is dubbed as ‘severe’. The marked improvement in air quality, according to UPPCB officials, is directly linked with reduction in use of firecrackers.
LUCKNOW: The Air Quality Index (AQI) of Lucknow a day after Diwali (Monday) was recorded at 305. While the good news is that it was much less than last year’s 412, the bad news is it was still very poor.
The AQI over 300 comes under ‘very poor’ category while one above 400 is dubbed as ‘severe’.
The marked improvement in air quality, according to officials of the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPCPCB), is directly linked with reduction in use of firecrackers.
“This year we observed a marked reduction in the use of firecrackers on Diwali which is reflected in a better AQI,” said Ram Karan, regional officer, UPCPCB. “We also managed to curb industrial and construction activities that helped to maintain a better air quality in Lucknow,” Karan added. A drop in sale of crackers in the state capital also corroborated the reduction in the use of crackers.
As per the wholesale cracker traders, the sale of crackers this year dropped close to half from last year.
Satish Chandra Misra, chairman, Lucknow Cracker Association, said, “The customer appeared concerned about the use of crackers this time. They opted for crackers that made less sound and smoke. The sale of crackers was tepid. The traders also received less quantity of crackers this year and the administration was also strict regarding opening of stalls to sell crackers.”
Along with the concern for environment, locals also complained about exorbitant cracker prices due to which they purchased fewer crackers.
“The price of crackers was almost double this time as compared to last year. So we bought very few crackers. The children also seemed less interested in bursting crackers so we instead burnt Chinese lanterns,” said Mridul Kumar, a businessman, who lives in Gomti Nagar area.