AQI: City shows improvement at 204

Despite taking strict measures to save the environment from further degradation by registering FIRs against those responsible for farm fires in the fields in the recent past, not much improvement could be witnessed as far as figures of air quality index (AQI) are concerned.

Though the AQI on November 1 showed minor improvement in Ludhiana this year at 204, the city was still in the “poor” category. The bursting of firecrackers on Diwali could be the major reason for the poor air quality.

Figures with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) show that the air quality in Amritsar district remained “very poor” on November 1. The AQI in Amritsar was 350 while in Ludhiana, it was 204. Still, it came under the “poor” category as compared to 245 AQI last year in Ludhiana. At the same time, last year on November 1, Amritsar recorded 227 AQI, which was much lesser than 350 recorded this year.

The atmosphere was deteriorated in Chandigarh as well. Last year, the AQI was 180 on November 1 while this year, it was recorded at 302, which fell under “very poor” quality. Though Chandigarh did not have many industries in comparison to Ludhiana, its AQI was very poor.

The air quality in Mandi Gobindgarh has also shown more pollution this time. On November 1, AQI in Mandi Gobindgarh was 297, which was poor. On the same day last year, Mandi Gobindgarh had recorded 259 AQI.

Despite all efforts made by government agencies to curb the fire farms, cities, including Amritsar, Chandigarh and Mandi Gobindgarh, witnessed rising levels of air pollution. Thankfully, in Ludhiana there was little respite from the rising level of the AQI. The figure was much less than Amritsar or Chandigarh or even Mandi Gobindgarh.

Bathinda district has shown improvement in saving the environment. On October 31, 2023, Bathinda had recorded AQI at 277 while this year on Friday, it was 107.

Amritsar, Chandigarh more polluted

Despite all efforts made by government agencies to curb fire farms, cities, including Amritsar, Chandigarh and Mandi Gobindgarh, witnessed rising levels of air pollution. Thankfully, in Ludhiana there was little respite from the rising level of the AQI. The figure was much less than Amritsar (350) or Chandigarh (302) or even Mandi Gobindgarh (297).