Cloaked in smog, Haryana & Delhi-NCR air quality 'very poor' again

Bijendra Ahlawat

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Tribune News Service

Faridabad, December 14

After a weeklong relief, the air quality of Faridabad and Gurugram again dipped today. The PM-2.5 levels (particulate matter of 2.5 microgram in air) rose above 300, falling in the “very poor” category.

With thick smog enveloping the region, Sameer — official app of the Central Pollution Control Board — placed the air quality index (AQI) at 360 around 8 am this morning in Faridabad city. The AQI had been between “moderate” and “poor” (100-300) for the past 10 days.

It also dipped simultaneously in the neighbouring cyber city Gurugram, which saw 317 AQI this evening. “Besides Faridabad and Gurugram, four other cities Ballabhgarh, Bahadurgarh, Hisar and Panipat also recorded “very poor” levels (between 300 and 400), indicating that most parts of the state and the NCR had smoggy conditions. This was perhaps due to fall in temperature and local factors like increase in pollution,” said pollution board sources. The air quality in Delhi, Noida and Ghaziabad also fell in the “very poor” category.

Sources in the administration said there had been laxity in sprinkling water to check dust on damaged roads.

“Improper garbage disposal and construction work was adding to the pollution,” said Chetan Aggarwal, an environmental activist.

Blaming weather conditions, Smita Kanodia, Regional Officer, Pollution Control Board, Faridabad, said various measures were in place to curb pollution, including closure of the industrial units not following norms and penalty notices to offenders.