Panchkula sees cleanest Diwali in three years

Bhartesh Singh Thakur

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 8

Panchkula witnessed the cleanest Diwali in the last three years on Wednesday though the atmospheric particulate matter of the order of size 2.5 mircons (PM2.5) was more than the prescribed limit.

In the last three years, the PM2.5, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide was lowest on November 7 this year. However, carbon monoxide (CO) was the highest.

Also, Panchkula recorded the lowest Air Quality Index (AQI) at 157 among cities in the region on Diwali this year. The air quality fell in ‘moderate’ category, which causes breathing discomfort to the people with lungs, asthma and heart diseases.

The PM2.5 (24-hour average) on Diwali this year was 76.29 microgram per cubic metre (µg/m³) of air volume. The standard value of PM2.5 is 60µg/m³ for a 24-hour period. On October 19 last year, the PM2.5 was 89.58µg/m³ while on October 30, 2016, it was 132.08µg/m³.

Dr Ravindra Khaiwal, Associate Professor, School of Public Health, PGI, said, “PM2.5 is the major pollutant. It has come down in Panchkula. But still you see there is contribution from crackers.”

The value of nitrogen dioxide was 30.74µg/m³ this year against 35.95µg/m³ in 2017 and 21.5µg/m³ in 2016. The standard value of nitrogen dioxide is 80µg/m³ for 24-hour period.

The value of sulphur dioxide was 8.59µg/m³ this year while it was 12.63µg/m³ in 2017 and 18.55µg/m³ in 2016. The standard value of sulphur dioxide for 24-hour period is 80µg/m³.

The value of carbon monoxide this year was 1.16 milligram (mg) per cubic metre (24-hour average), which is the highest in three years. The standard value of carbon monoxide is 2 mg per cubic metre. In 2017, it was 0.88 mg per cubic metre and 0.61 mg per cubic metre a year before.