UP continues to gasp, five cities top pollution chart
LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh cities occupied top five spots on the list of places with worst air quality on Saturday.
Ghaziabad in NCR region recorded the worst air quality with AQI (Air Quailty Index) of 434 according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). It was followed closely by Kanpur (431) and Bulandshahar (415). Lucknow and Noida recorded AQI of 414.
According to the CPCP, AQI above 401 is categorized as ‘severe’, known to affect healthy people and having serious impact on those with pre-existing lung diseases.
Other west UP districts, including Baghpat, Bulandshahr, Greater Noida, Muzaffarnagar and Meerut also recorded high AQI. As per the CPCB, the major pollutants in the UP cities were PM10, PM2.5, and gases from vehicular emissions.
According to experts, cold weather, construction activities and vehicular emissions are the major contributor to pollution levels. Burning of farm waste, including stubble, is also a known contributor to air pollution. However, the incidents of stubble burning have gone down considerably with less than a dozen cases being reported in west UP in the past 48 hours.
In Lucknow, Talkatora and Gomti Nagar areas recorded worst air quality. Talkatora recorded an increased level of industrial emissions. In Gomti Nagar where construction work and vehicular emissions are the major contributors, the AQI hov- ered between 400 and 420 mark for most part of the day. Higher air pollution also caused smog that shrouded most parts of the city after 2 pm. Arnar Yadav, a city resident said, “The smog causes itching in my eyes. It is really painful to leave the house in the evening.”
Considering the rise in air pollution, last month the UPPCB (Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board) sent an advisory to districts administrations, directing them to check the rise in air pollution. But the advisory seems to have little effect on the state of air pollution.
“We are keeping a tab on the situation of air pollution and are taking measures to reduce it. Several industries, including those in the construction sector, have been fined for not following laid down guidelines to prevent air pollution. Efforts are also being made to make people aware about the issue,” said Ram Karan, regional officer of UPPCB.