Air quality in Himachal’s Baddi slips to ‘very poor’ category first time this season
Himachal pollution control board issues advisory to Municipal Committee, NHAI
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According to Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station (CAAQMS), located in Baddi, which provides real-time air quality index (AQI) readings, Baddi's AQI stood at 308 (6 pm on Friday). (Express File)As the air quality of the industrial town of Baddi in Himachal Pradesh’s Solan district slipped to the “very poor” category for the first time in this season on Friday, the Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board (HPSPCB) has issued advisories to the Municipal Committee, Baddi, and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to take immediate measures to curb the rising pollution levels.
According to Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station (CAAQMS), located in Baddi, which provides real-time air quality index (AQI) readings, Baddi’s AQI stood at 308 (6 pm on Friday). The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) classifies AQI 301-400 as “very poor”.
The AQI levels in Manali and Sundernagar (Mandi district) fell in the “good” category over the past 24 hours, with Manali recording an AQI of 30 while that of Sundernagar stood at 49.
Shimla (57), Dharamshala (73), Una (82), Parwanoo (90), and Damtal (70) reported AQI levels in the “satisfactory” category. Four places, including Paonta Sahib (119), Kala Amb (145), Barotiwala (150), and Nalagarh (130), recorded AQI levels in the “moderate” category. Kala Amb and Paonta Sahib (both (Sirmour district) are industrial towns, while Barotiwala and Nalagarh (both Solan district) are adjacent to Baddi.
At present, Himachal Pradesh has only one CAAQMS, which is located in Baddi. It was installed in March this year.
Neeraj Gupta, Additional Director, HPSPCB, said, “Biomass burning and extensive highway construction in and around Baddi, coupled with stubble burning in neighbouring Punjab and Haryana, are major factors contributing to the deteriorating air quality in Baddi. We have advised the Municipal Committee to prevent biomass burning and urged NHAI authorities to do frequent water sprinkling during highway construction activities in the area to bring down the pollution level. Separate advisories have been issued to both departments.”
The construction of a four-lane ring road from Mullanpur (Punjab) to Baddi was recently initiated, along with two other highway projects in Baddi by the NHAI. Manoj Chauhan, Chief Scientific Officer, HPSPCB, said, “We have to keep a fact in mind that the crop pattern in the five towns, including Baddi, is quite similar to the crop pattern of Punjab and Haryana. All these towns are on the border of the two states. From this point of view, stubble burning either in the areas of the adjoining states or within these towns is also an issue.”
Kala Amb borders the Naraingarh area of Ambala district in Haryana, Paonta Sahib shares boundaries with Yamunanagar district of Haryana, and Barotiwala and Nalagarh border Kalka and Pinjore in Panchkula district (Haryana).
Additionally, Baddi shares its boundaries with Mohali in Punjab and parts of Panchkula.
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