Himachal shines with cleaner air; AQI drops post-Diwali

Even as several cities in North India are battling poor to severe air pollution post Diwali, Himachal has seen a significant decline in average Air Quality Index (AQI) on Diwali as compared to last year. Against the average AQI of 140 recorded last year in the state, the average AQI this Diwali dropped to 99, within the ‘satisfactory’ category.

Out of the 12 stations where the Pollution Control Board monitored air quality on Diwali and during the week leading up to the festival, 10 stations saw a drop in pollution level as compared to last year. Dharamsala and Una were the only two stations where the pollution level went up – Dharamsala saw the AQI level go up from last year’s 109 to 120 and Una from 122 to 140.

As per the pollution control board, the AQI varied from ‘good’ to ‘moderate’ in the run-up to Diwali and from ‘satisfactory’ to ‘moderate’ on Diwali. None of the locations monitored by the board was found under the poor and worse categories.

Shimla, incidentally, recorded the best air quality among the 12 monitored stations, recording an AQI of 57. Last year, the capital had registered an AQI of 66. A week back on October 13, Shimla had an AQI of 19. Manali, too, saw its pollution level decrease this Diwali to 62 from last year’s 80. Quite significantly, the industrial towns like Parwanoo, Kala Amb, Baddi, Barotiwala and Nalagarh also recorded a significant decline in the pollution level.

Nevertheless, the impact of firecrackers was clearly visible at all monitoring locations on Diwali, with all stations recording higher AQI compared to pre-Diwali AQI. Overall, Parwanoo, Dharamsala, Paonta Sahib, Baddi and Una recorded ‘moderate’ AQI level, while Shimla, Barotiwala, Damtal, Sundernagar, Kala Amb, Nalagarh and Manali registered ‘satisfactory’ AQI level.