Panipat air quality worse than Gurugram’s

Mukesh Tandon

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Tribune News Service

Panipat, October 14

The air quality of Panipat is more dangerous than the cyber city of Gurugram. The Air Quality Index (AQI) of the textile city was recorded 305 on Monday. Besides, the AQI of Faridabad was recorded 263 and 205 for Gurugram and it was also on a high of 315 in Karnal on Monday.

The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) has made a special Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to tackle the worsening AQI. To deal with the critical situation of the AQI, Deputy Commissioner Sumedha Kataria called an emergency meeting of all stakeholders to implement GRAP in the city.

According to information, the AQI was recorded in the city on Monday was 305 at 4 pm, while it was 338 on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the AQI of the city gradually increased in the last one week. Last Monday i.e. on October 7, the AQI was recorded 144, 107 on Tuesday, 185 on Wednesday, 274 on Thursday, 252 on Friday, 338 (the maximum this month) on Saturday and 287 on Sunday.

Sources in the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) said the AQI reached at the dangerous level due to the burning of effigies of Ravana, Meghnad and Kumbhkarna on Dasehra. The particulate matter (PM) 2.5 and PM 10 also increased in the textile city, which is more than the normal range.

As per the sources, EPCA chairman Bhure Lal visited Panipat in September and directed the HSPCB officials to initiate stringent action against illegal fuel burning. He also visited Sector 29, Part II, and Sector 25 on October 6 and also pulled up the HSPCB and Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran officials for pollution due to industrial waste water flowing onto the roads and in green belts.

The EPCA chairman has now directed to implement the GRAP to curb pollution.

Meanwhile, the DC said the air quality was very poor in the city and it was mandatory to implement GRAP to control the pollution.

Under the GRAP, all stakeholders have to work jointly to stop the burning of stubble, garbage and fuel, check vehicles and take action against industries and institutions causing pollution, she added.