Pune: Air quality in cities across the country has worsened during five days of Diwali celebration, states the data furnished by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The air quality in Pune city has deteriorated as well. CPCB data suggests that Pune reported 91 on the Air Quality Index (AQI) on November 4 and the AQI reported on November 8 was 186 and on November 9, it was reported to be moderate at 141.
According to the CPCB, ‘Good’ air quality implies minimal impact, ‘Satisfactory’ implies minor breathing discomfort to sensitive people, ‘Moderate’ implies breathing discomfort to the people with lung, asthma and heart diseases, ‘Poor Breathing’ implies discomfort to most people on prolonged exposure, ‘Very Poor’ implies respiratory illness on prolonged exposure and ‘Severe’ implies that it may affect healthy people and seriously impact those with existing diseases.
Similarly, major cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata have registered poor quality air which has worsened in these five days. Delhi on November 4 reported AQI of 171, which by November 9 has been reported to be 423 – severe. In Mumbai, the AQI was 84 on November 4 and on November 9 it was as high as 183 which is moderate.
The AQI for Kolkata on November 4 was 75 which has seen an increase on November 9 of 336 i.e. very poor. Chennai reported air quality at 95 on November 4. However, on November 9, the AQI has worsened to 146 (moderate).
Response to firecracker ban
With the recent Supreme Court order only green firecrackers with reduced emission and decibel levels were permitted during all religious festivals. The apex court also decided that on Diwali, firecrackers could be burst between 8 pm and 10 pm.
However, data from the CPCB suggests that in Pune, the AQI for this year as well as last year indicated that the air quality remained almost the same. Last year from Dhanteras on October 17, the AQI was reported to be 190. Last year on October 18, the third day of Diwali, it was 111, on October 19, the fourth day of Diwali, it was 84 and on the last day of Diwali, October 20, AQI was 157. Speaking to Sakal Times, Mangesh Dighe, Environment Officer with the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) said use of crackers this year was reduced.
“Also the high decibel firecrackers were used less this year. The amount of waste that firecrackers generate is immense as it contributes to air pollution, noise pollution as well as solid waste and dirt. The harmful gases that a firecracker generates affects human body as well as environment adversely,” said Dighe.
