‘City’s air quality at Diwali last year was worse than Delhi’

During a case hearing on Friday, Supreme Court Chief Justice BR Gavai questioned why firecracker bans apply only to Delhi-NCR and not to other cities suffering from severe pollution. He recalled, “I was in Amritsar last winter and the pollution was worse than in Delhi.” His observation raises alarm for citizens and authorities, especially the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) and district administration.

Gavai’s point is valid that Amritsar turned into a gas chamber last Diwali, with the air quality index (AQI) soaring to 360. This occurred after two years of relatively better air quality during the festival of lights.

Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) shows that from October 26 to 30, Amritsar’s AQI readings were 228, 310, 160, 185, and 185, respectively. On October 27, the AQI of 310 dipped into the “very poor” category, and on October 30, 2023, the city’s AQI was still a concerning 195.

On October 31, 2024, Amritsar remained the most polluted city in Punjab in the week before Diwali, with AQI fluctuating between the “moderate” and “poor” categories.

However, the average AQI breached the 350 mark on November 2, 2024, a day after Diwali celebrations. The city’s air quality worsened to a hazardous level, with the AQI hitting 370 in the evening. This high pollution trend continued for three consecutive days, raising serious concerns about the city’s air quality.

Environmental engineer Vinod Kumar, who was posted in Amritsar last winter, explained that the city’s immediate environment had become stagnant. When temperatures drop, temperature inversion occurs—a phenomenon where cold air traps pollutants near the ground beneath a layer of warmer air, preventing their dispersion. This led to the elevated pollution levels in the city.

Stubble burning, open garbage burning, and vehicular pollution remain major contributors to Amritsar’s poor air quality. Kumar warned that this dangerous trend could pose serious health risks. The Indian government has also raised concerns about large-scale farm fires in Pakistan’s Punjab, as Amritsar, being a border district, receives pollutants drifting across the border.

In addition to falling temperatures, unchecked violations related to farm fires and firecracker burning made Amritsar the most polluted city in Punjab for a brief period last year.

Doctors reported an increase in chest ailments during the last winter. Patients with chronic asthma and respiratory illnesses faced severe health issues due to the deteriorating air quality.