Dip in Diwali pollution levels this time

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, October 20

Despite the High Court orders, the bursting of crackers in the district went on with impunity way past the stipulated deadline of 9.30 on Diwali night.

The city police registered 33 cases of violations against people bursting crackers in the middle of the night. They were booked under Section 188 of the IPC.

Meanwhile, there was a reduction in both the pre-Diwali and post Diwali ambient air pollution levels compared to the previous Diwali. While the level of the RSPM in the air last Diwali was 247 Ug/m3, this year it was down to 218 ug/m3; the SO2 levels last Diwali were 20 ug/m3, but this Diwali these were down to 17 ug/m3 and the NOX levels last Diwali were 36 ug/m3, but this year these came down to 33 ug/m3.

Interestingly, while there has been a marginal increase in the levels of the RSPM and SO2 levels pre-Diwali, there has been a decrease in the levels of RSPM, NOx and SO2 on the Diwali day and overall pollution levels in the district have witnessed a marginal decrease this year.

While the pre-Diwali RSPM levels last year were recorded at 159 ug/m3, this year they were recorded to be 178 ug/m3, the Diwali day RSPM levels were 247 ug/m3 last year, but this year these came down to 218 ug/m3. The SO2 levels on the other pre-Diwali were 10 ug/m3 last year, but this year these were 11 ug/me. The SO2 levels on the Diwali day last year were 20 ug/m3, but this year they came down to 17 ug/m3.

The levels of pre-Diwali NOX in the air last year was 28 ug/m3, but that this year it was 24 ug/m3. On the Diwali day, the NOX levels were 36 ug/m3 last year, but this year, the levels were 33 ug/m3.

Among the residential, commercial and sensitive areas this year, the pollution levels were witnessed to be highest among the RSPM levels in residential areas at 235 ug/m3.

In residential areas, the RSPM levels pre-Diwali were 175 ug/m3, while on Diwali Day, these witnessed a considerable rise to 235 ug/m3. In commercial areas, the pre-Diwali RSPM levels were 183 ug/m3 and on Diwali, these were 215 ug/m3. In sensitive areas, the RSPM levels pre-Diwali were 176 ug/m3 and on Diwali, these were 204 ug/m3.

In residential areas, NOX levels pre-Diwali were 25 ug/m3 while on Diwali Day, they witnessed a considerable rise to 35 ug/m3, in commercial areas pre-Diwali NOX levels were 26 ug/m3 and on Diwali Day they were 32 ug/m3. In sensitive areas, NOX levels pre-Diwali were 22 ug/m3 and on Diwali day they were 32 ug/m3.

As far as SO2 levels are concerned, in residential areas, the SO2 levels pre-Diwali were 10 ug/m3, while on Diwali, these witnessed a rise to 20 ug/m3. In commercial areas, the pre-Diwali SO2 levels were 13 ug/m3 and on Diwali, these were 17 ug/m3. In sensitive areas, the SO2 levels pre-Diwali were 11 ug/m3 and on Diwali, these were 15 ug/m3.