Air quality dips again, residents complain of poor visibility in city

Avneet Kaur

Jalandhar, November 15

Air quality index (AQI) recorded in the city in the wee hours as well as in the evening was poor today. Residents’ complained of poor visibility and asked the government to take measures to ensure a clean environment by checking air pollution, especially stubble burning, in the district.

According to information, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded the AQI at 283 at Civil Lines here at 10 am and 300 at 4 pm. If the AQI is between 201 and 300, the situation is considered to be poor and its possible health impacts include breathing discomfort to most people on prolonged exposure.

As per sources, stubble-burning cases are still being reported in the region, while farmers say that they don’t want to burn stubble but they are forced to do it as the government was not giving sufficient funds or subsidy for managing the paddy residue.

They said the farmers were not able to spend money from their own pockets to manage the stubble due to costly methods.

A city resident, Rajesh Kumar, said visibility was apparently low in the city early this morning and due to smog. “Only farmers and stubble burning could not be blamed for the decreasing air quality. Pollution caused by industries, factories and burning of garbage also contribute to air pollution”, he said, adding that merely advertising won’t help to get rid of the menace.

The government should have taken serious steps before the harvesting season and even the local authorities should be engaged to keep a tab over any kind of fire incidents, he said.

Slamming the government and the authorities concerned, an asthma patient, Pooja Yadav, said: “After Diwali, the condition of environment is worsening. I have been suffering a lot due to air pollution. I don’t go on a walk as the air outside is so injurious to health. The government should wake up and take immediate steps to improve the situation.”

Meanwhile, doctors have advised asthma patients to stay indoors and use inhaler pumps as per requirement.