Ghaziabad: The town has fared higher within the first half of November this yr as the typical air high quality index (AQI) ranges have remained on the decrease aspect in comparison with the final six years with the least variety of “extreme” days through the first 13 days of the present month.
Ghaziabad has excessive ranges of air air pollution within the month of November and is among the many 16 “non-attainment” cities within the state of Uttar Pradesh. Cities are declared “non-attainment” if they don’t meet the Nationwide Ambient Air High quality Requirements for particulate matter (PM10) or nitrogen dioxide (NO2) over a interval of 5 years.
In line with the official data of the UP Air pollution Management Board, the typical AQI through the first 13 days of November has stood at 316 with simply two “extreme” days.
An AQI between zero and 50 is taken into account “good”, 51 and 100 “passable”, 101 and 200 “average”, 201 and 300 “poor”, 301 and 400 “very poor”, and 401 and 500 “extreme.”
The figures for a similar interval in November 2017 witnessed a excessive common AQI of 440 with 9 “extreme” days. This decreased to a median AQI of 373 throughout the identical interval in 2018 with seven “extreme” days.
The common AQI elevated to 399 with six “extreme” days in 2019 and 404 with six “extreme” days in 2020. Within the yr 2021, the same interval witnessed a median AQI of 428 with 10 “extreme” days.
The town witnessed excessive ranges of air air pollution in November through the two years of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021.
“The meteorological situations have been beneficial this yr and this has resulted in decrease air pollution ranges. Alternatively, ban on pet coke, coal and furnace oil, extra registrations of electrical automobiles and CNG/BS-VI compliant transport automobiles have additionally impacted the air pollution ranges,” stated Utsav Sharma, UPPCB regional officer.
“There have additionally been coordinated efforts by completely different businesses within the district and likewise on the Nationwide Capital Area (NCR) degree. The enforcement actions have additionally elevated, moreover there may be extra consciousness among the many public. All these elements have considerably contributed in controlling the excessive air pollution ranges,” Sharma added.
Earlier in April this yr, Ghaziabad was ranked because the second-most polluted metropolis on this planet after Bhiwadi in Rajasthan as per the World Air High quality Report-2021. The annual report, ready by Switzerland-based organisation IQAir, surveyed 6,475 cities internationally.
“The air pollution ranges have been on the decrease aspect this November, purely attributable to meteorological elements resembling excessive wind velocity, greater temperatures and so on., which assist within the dispersal of pollution. The businesses lack the sting to penalise polluters. The town suffers from native elements resembling visitors congestion and industrial emissions,” stated Akash Vashishtha, a Ghaziabad-based environmentalist and a lawyer.
Ghaziabad metropolis on Sunday recorded an AQI of 230 beneath the “poor” class, whereas neighbouring Better Noida and Noida recorded an AQI of 234 and 231 respectively.
The forecast by the System of Air High quality and Climate Forecasting and Analysis (Safar) on Sunday said that native floor wind of 10-20 kilometres per hour (kmph) for subsequent two days is probably going to enhance the dispersion of pollution, whereas a drop within the temperatures will assist in the buildup of pollution.
“Regardless of average stubble emission share (24%) attributable to beneficial higher degree wind circulate (blowing from the northwest route), the AQI is more likely to stay throughout the “very poor” class on November 13, 14 and 15 attributable to environment friendly dispersion of pollution,” the forecast added.
