The Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) said that in the first eight months of this year, Ghaziabad city saw a slight improvement in its air quality index (AQI) readings and pollution levels remained almost the same as in the same period in 2023. was seen during the period. ).
UPPCB data shows that the city saw 129 “moderate” AQI days between January and August compared to 124 “moderate” days during the same period in 2023.
The number of “good” AQI days during this period was 12 compared to five “good” AQI days in 2023. However, the number of “satisfactory” days was lower this year at 43 compared to 54 during the same period. 2023.
According to the AQI scale, readings between 0 and 50 are considered “good”, 51 and 100 as “satisfactory”, 101 and 200 as “moderate”, 201 and 300 as “poor”, 301 and 400 as “poor”. is considered “very poor”, and 401 and 500 are “severe”.
“Pollution levels have improved during the period prior to the implementation of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) this year. This was largely due to meteorological factors and regular ground level practices such as water sprinkling, mechanized road sweeping and Effective ban on garbage burning etc. We will implement Grap with the onset of season and better air conditions are predicted to prevail,” said Vikas Mishra, Regional Officer, UPPCB.
The number of “good,” “satisfactory” and “moderate” AQI days, indicating low pollution, totaled 183 in 2023 compared to 184 during the same period this year.
Similarly, the number of “poor”, “very poor” and “severe” days, indicating high levels of pollution, totaled 59 in 2023 and 60 in 2024, UPPCB said.
Recently, Ghaziabad city was ranked 22nd in the list of 47 cities with a population of more than 1 million in the 2024 “Such Wave Survey (Clean Air Survey)” initiative by the Union Ministry of Environment. .
The city was ranked 12th in the 2023 edition of the Clean Air Survey. The initiative ranks cities based on air quality and implementation of activities approved under the city's action plan.
“Rain activity since July has reduced PM10 and PM2.5 levels, resulting in more good air days. Pollution reduction measures by agencies are inadequate and it seems That there is hardly any intention to deal with pollution, these measures are taken only to fulfill the norms,” said Akash Vashishtha, an environmental lawyer.
In a recent development, the Commission of Air Quality Management (CAQM) revised the GRIP rules this year. GRIP aims to implement a set of wide-ranging emergency measures implemented in a short period of time to reduce rising air pollution in Delhi-NCR.