RANCHI’S AIR QUALITY PLUNGES ON DIWALI NIGHT

RANCHI: Air quality of the city plunged drastically on Diwali night due to rise in concentration of particulate matter (PM)-10 and 2.5.

Particulate matter 10 recorded 177% rise, while PM 2.5, tiny particulate matter that reaches deep into lungs, registered 118% increase between 6pm and 12 midnight on Diwali.

As per the data recorded by the Jharkhand state pollution control board (JSPCB) at Doranda based air quality station, average PM 10 was recorded at 280.86 ug/m3 (micrograms per cubic metre of air) in the given window, 8pm to 10pm, by the Supreme Court. Similarly, the PM 2.5 was recorded at 130.56 ug/m3.

The permissible limit for PM 10 is 100 ug/m3 while 60 ug/m3 is for PM 2.5.

Interestingly, PM 10 reached 427.70 ug/m3 on Diwali night, while PM 2.5 was recorded at 185.90 ug/ m3. JSPCB member secretary, Rajiv Lochan Bakshi said the report is much better than the other cities of the country.

NO PERSON BOOKED FOR VIOLATING SC DIRECTIVE

ADG (Operations) and police spokesperson R K Mallick said that the police headquarters did not receive any report of people being booked for violating the Supreme Court’s directive on firecrackers bursting during a fixed time slot.

“There could have been deviation of around 30 minutes from the specified timewindow, but by and large people adhered to the apex court’s order. It was a peaceful Diwali, where people did not create any problem ,” Mallick said.