Average AQI 47, maximum 57: City green & happy ahead of Diwali

While the Supreme Court has recently said that it cannot make a policy regarding fire-crackers only for Delhi —- since clean air was the right of every citizen across the country and not just the NCR — Jalandhar city has had long trysts with plummeting AQI level every Diwali. The incessant burning of fire- crackers along with stubble fire and vehicle pollution ushers in an unforgiving winter with high AQI.

With about a month to go for Diwali this year, the AQ levels in Jalandhar are currently green and happy at an average 46 and maximum of 57. However, on an annual basis, the district’s bad AQI phase typically begins days before Diwali and peaks during the festival —- amidst festivities and traffic jams.

The CJI recently remarked that winter pollution in Amritsar last year was worse than in Delhi. In Punjab, last year, Jalandhar came in right next to the holy city in pollution levels. Post Diwali, Jalandhar became the second most polluted district in the state after Amritsar.

Jalandhar air pollution levels were recorded to be “extremely hazardous” on Diwali day last year (2024), due to a mix of bursting of fire-crackers, vehicular pollution, construction dust and stubble fires.

In 2024, Jalandhar’s maximum AQI on the day of Diwali, October 31, was 500 while the average AQI was 237. On November 1, Jalandhar’s AQI continued to be severe at a maximum of 482 and at an average of 211. Jalandhar recorded a maximum AQI of 500 —- denoting severe pollution —- both on Diwali day and on November 2.

There was at least a 200 point difference in AQI pre and post Diwali. As before Diwali, the district AQI levels were recorded at a maximum of about 300.

A thick haze enveloped Jalandhar as citizens reported of breathlessness, burning eyes, shortness of breath and other accompanying conditions like cough, sore throat, fatigue —- all due to the air pollution which paralysed life, especially for those with respiratory illnesses, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Officials said bursting of crackers and farm fires from neighbouring districts were all contributing to deterioration of air quality in Jalandhar on Diwali night. Days after Diwali, people kept complaining of cough, watery eyes, itchy and throat irritation.

The bad AQI run continued until January with several trackers reporting a “severe” air quality warning —- of AQI up to 424 —- on January 5 with the advisory not to step outside. However, the government’s national live air quality index on the same day recorded a moderate air quality level of 90 and the PPCB Jalandhar meter, too, recorded an average AQI of 87 on the same day.