Like Delhi, Rajasthan has a pollution problem — sometimes more severe

On November 26, for instance, the AQI in Hanumangarh, which is in northern Rajasthan, close to the state’s border with Punjab and Haryana, was 426, with PM2.5 as the main pollutant, while it was a slightly lower figure of 396 in Delhi. Similarly, on November 18, Hanumangarh recorded an AQI of 427 with PM10 as the main pollutant, more than a hundred points higher than Delhi’s AQI of 319 on the day.

Rajasthan has an air pollution problem that is now more apparent as its towns and cities emerge as the most polluted places in the country. Over the past week (November 17 to 23), towns in Rajasthan have recorded the highest daily AQI on six out of seven days, on the CPCB’s daily bulletins with over 240 locations in the country.

On November 17, it was Sri Ganganagar and Hanumangarh with an AQI of 426 each, on November 18 it was Hanumangarh (AQI of 427), on November 19 and 20 it was Sri Ganganagar (AQI of 441 and 423), on November 21 it was Churu (AQI of 404), and on November 23 it was Dholpur (AQI of 417).

Why are these places suddenly topping the charts? The air quality monitoring network was extended to these places only this year, and this is the first winter for which data is being collected from these stations.

Most polluted places in country

*Data based on CPCB 4 pm bulletins (available for 239 to 244 locations on these days) 

After the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had asked about measures to improve air quality in certain towns and cities in the country, the Department of Environment, Rajasthan, told the Tribunal in a report this week that continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations were set up in Hanumangarh, Sri Ganganagar, Bikaner, Bundi, Bharatpur, Churu, Dausa, Jhunjhunu, and Tonk only this year. The monitoring network was also extended to Dholpur and Sikar only this year.

Rajasthan, the country’s largest state by area, has 45 continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations, according to data from the CPCB. This is only five more than the national capital’s 40 stations.

Vijai N, member-secretary, Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RSPCB), said, “Sometimes it is surprising…in the case of places where there may not be too many industries like Sri Ganganagar, which is part of the agricultural belt. It could be the weather pattern, inversion, and stubble burning playing an important role in Sri Ganganagar and Hanumangarh.”

Rajasthan has seen the highest number of farm fires this year (1751 till November 23), compared to data from 2020, according to the Indian Agricultural Research Institute. Last year, there were 1,241 instances, 1,222 in 2021, and 1,651 in 2020. Across districts, Hanumangarh district, which covers an area of 9,656 square km, has recorded the highest number of farm fires so far – 684.

Hanumangarh also has around 441 brick kilns, according to the report submitted before the NGT. Data was submitted for 11 towns and cities, and of them, Bhiwadi had the highest number of industrial units – 2,249, followed by 2,004 in Bikaner.

‘Severe’ AQI (401 to 500) days from October 26 to November 26

Gufran Beig, founder project-director SAFAR, and chair professor, National Institute of Advanced Studies, said, “Rajasthan shares an airshed with Delhi, and the climatology, with temperatures falling rapidly and stagnation conditions, at this time, can affect pollution levels significantly from November to January. Rajasthan also has different sources in different places. There are stone crushers; then there are desert areas where the impact of dust is significant.”

A source apportionment study is underway for five cities in the state – Alwar, Jaipur, Kota, Udaipur and Jodhpur – Vijai said. The study, which is yet to be submitted and is being done along with IIT Kanpur, IIT Delhi and IIT Jodhpur, indicates a major contribution of dust from the desert region to air pollution, he added.

While a Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) with certain restrictions kicks in across the NCR when pollution levels are expected to cross a certain threshold, Rajasthan doesn’t have this in place, except for the Alwar and Bharatpur areas that are part of the NCR.

Vijai said, “Most of the time, the target is the NCR region, but these areas will also have to be looked into from next year onwards. We need to take steps to combat stubble burning also, and another 15 monitoring stations are being added in the state. Looking at the AQI pattern, we will have to intervene if this situation continues and prepare a mechanism for these places as well.”

“So far, the focus is on the NCR and protocols have been developed for the NCR. If this situation continues, we need similar mechanisms in these cities. This is the first time this is highlighted, so we will have to develop our own strategies,” added Vijai.

On whether any specific measures are being taken in towns where AQI has hit the ‘very poor’ or ‘severe’ levels, he said, “In industrial areas, we try to take measures like anti-smog guns, along with water sprinkling and dust control measures. We do this in the NCR areas, but since this is the first time…we have instructed regional officers to undertake these measures in places where AQI is high.”

Under the National Clean Air Programme, five cities in Rajasthan have been identified as non-attainment cities — Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Udaipur and Alwar.