Pollution levels declined in Punjab this Diwali: PPCB

Chandigarh, October 20

The pollution levels across Punjab this Diwali have significantly declined as compared to last year, the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) said on Friday.

The air quality analysis by the PPCB shows that the pollution level had increased by just 24 per cent this Diwali, compared to a 70 per cent increase last year, the board said here.

Last year, the state’s air quality index (AQI) a day ahead of Diwali was recorded at 130. It increased by 70 per cent, to 228, on the day of the festival, the data released by the PPCB said.

This year the AQI increased to 328 from 265, indicating an increase in pollution level of only 24 per cent, the board said.

The percentage increase in AQI in Mandi Gobindgarh has been recorded at 17 per cent this year as compared to about 163 per cent last year, a PPCB spokesman said, giving city- wise details.

The increase in AQI in Ludhiana was 24 per cent this year as compared to 50 per cent last year. In Amritsar city, it was 45 per cent compared to 63 per cent recorded last Diwali, he said.

The spokesman said that the level of Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) this year has been higher because of low level of air dispersion due to very low wind velocity and early harvesting of paddy crop.

Incidents of paddy straw burning saw a three times increase on Diwali. There 1,188 incidents as compared to the average of 400 per day, he said. — PTI