City’s pollution level more this Diwali

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 8

Despite restrictions on bursting of firecrackers, pollution and noise levels rose in the city on Diwali night this year.

The Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee (CPCC) monitored the ambient air quality and noise levels at three locations ie Sector 22 (residential zone), Punjab Engineering College, Sector 12 (silence zone) and Sector 17 (commercial zone) a week before Diwali and on Wednesday night in accordance with the guidelines of the Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi.

As per the data provided by the CPCC, the air quality index (AQI) of Sector 22, 17 and 12 was recorded at 311, 177 and 297, respectively, compared to 240, 137 and 247, respectively, on Diwali night last year. The PM10 as well as PM 2.5 levels also increased at all the three locations as compared to the last year.

A CPCC official said a dip in temperature was an important factor contributing towards the increase in the AQI.

He said Diwali was celebrated on October 19 last year when the temperature was recorded at 23.5°C (8 pm) as compared to 16.6°C on Diwali night this year.

The AQI in Sector 17 and 12 was recorded at 177 and 297 on November 7 this year. It was 362 and 306, respectively, on this day last year. Despite the fact that November 7 was a normal day last year, it saw an AQI much higher than what was recorded on the day, which happened to be Diwali, this year.

The CPCC official said a massive awareness campaign, coupled with the court order, helped keeping a check on pollution due to bursting of crackers on Diwali.