Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Patiala
The data of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) established that the state witnessed lesser air pollution as compared to the previous years on Diwali. Dr Charanjit Singh, Deputy Director, PPCB, said as per real time data of continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations in Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Khanna, Mandi Gobindgarh, Patiala, Bathinda and Ropar, the average air quality index of Punjab was 210 as compared to 234 in 2018 and 328 in 2017.
“This is very encouraging. A decrease of 10.25 per cent in air quality index (AQI) as compared to previous year and 36 per cent as compared to 2017 is substantial improvement,” he said.
Though the harvesting of paddy is at its peak in the state and there were 2,231 farm fire incidents reported yesterday by Punjab Remote Sensing Centre, better quality of air prevailed this year than previous years on Diwali.Prof SS Marwaha, Chairman, PPCB, said the campaign launched by schools educating children regarding ill-effects of bursting crackers had started showing results.
He said last year average particulate matter (PM) 10 was 277 microgram per cubicmetre (µg/m³) RSPM (respirable suspended particulate matter) and PM 2.5 was 126 µg/m³ last year, whereas this year, these were 212 µg/m³ and 117 µg/m³, respectively, showing a 23.46 per cent and 7.14 per cent reduction in PM 10 and PM 2.5 levels, respectively.
“As compared to 2017, the reduction in PM 10 is 52 per cent and PM 2.5 48 per cent, indicating a regular improvement of air quality on Diwali. This is an encouraging phenomenon, where every individual is contributing to make Diwali greener every year,” he said.
Prof Marwaha said PPCB field officers in association with the police patrolled various cities falling under their jurisdiction to implement the orders of the Supreme Court that the cracker bursting should take place only between 8 pm and 10 pm.
There were, however, reports of people bursting crackers well after the stipulated time from various districts, with the police registering maximum cases against unknown persons. The Supreme Court had, last year, banned polluting firecrackers and ordered that only green firecrackers, which is said to cause 30 per cent less pollution, be manufactured and sold.
But the green pyrotechnics have failed to draw good response both from sellers and buyers primarily due to lack of variety, limited stock and high prices.
