Telling Numbers: Pollution on Diwali rose 5x in Delhi; Bengaluru air clean

The Central Pollution Control Board conducted air quality monitoring for seven cities — Delhi, Agra, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Kolkata, Lucknow, and Vadodara. It measured air quality for pre-Diwali, Diwali and post-Diwali periods. The Board prescribes the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for PM2.5 (Particulate Matter 2.5) at 60 µg/cubic metre (24-hourly average), and PM10 (Particulate Matter 10) at 100 µg/cu.m.

Figures in micrograms per cubic metre. (Source: Central Pollution Control Board via MoEFCC)

On pre-Diwali days, PM10 and PM2.5 were already significantly above NAAQS levels in Agra, Delhi, Lucknow and Kolkata, while the levels in the other three cities were below or slightly above these standards. On Diwali, all cities except Bengaluru crossed PM2.5 NAAQS values. On post-Diwali days (seven days after October 27), the levels of both pollutants fell in all these cities except Agra.

(Source: Central Pollution Control Board via MoEFCC)

The question was raised by Trinamool Congress MP Shanta Chhetri in Rajya Sabha. In his reply, Minister of State Babul Supriyo said it was evident that north Indian cities displayed similar dispersion patterns.

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