Air quality level in Chandigarh shows signs of improvement: Pollution panel data

The Chandigarh-Zirakpur highway on Friday. Express Photo by Jaipal Singh

The air quality in City Beautiful, which was at its worst ever on Wednesday, is showing signs of improvement. According to the latest data provided by the Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee (CPCC) on Friday, the 24-hour air quality level was comparatively better on Thursday. The levels, however, continued to remain between poor and very poor categories.

In view of the poor air quality, the UT health department on Friday issued a 14-point public advisory for the general public.

According to the latest data, the 24-hour Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded was in “poor and very poor categories” at three of the five air monitoring stations in the city. Since November 1, all the monitoring stations in the city showed AQI in the “very poor category”.

CPCC officials said out of the three monitoring stations, only one at IMTECH in Sector 39 showed “very poor air quality level” category on Thursday. At this station, AQI was 303 (very poor category), while as PM 10 (particles in air with diameter less than 10 mm) and PM 2.5 recorded 211 µg/m3 (microgram per cubic meter) and 124 µg/m3, respectively. The 24-hour permissible value of PM 2.5 is 60 µg/m3 and for PM 10 is 100.

On Wednesday, air quality at UT’s Industrial Area monitoring station was 375, the worst ever recorded.

“For the first time on Thursday, the AQI was better than the previous days in Chandigarh,” said a CPCC official.

On Thursday, at the Village Kaimbwala station, the AQI on Thursday was 227 (poor) which was lower than the previous recording. AQI at the Sector 17 CPCC unit was 253, while PM10 and PM2.5 were 164 µg/m3 and 106 µg/m3, respectively.

Meanwhile, on the advice of CPCC, the UT health department issued a public advisory for the city residents. The department lists 14 dos and don’ts, asking people to stay indoors if air quality is very poor.

UT Health Director Dr G Dewan told Chandigarh Newsline that the advisory has been issued “in view of severe air pollution in the city as reported by CPCC and also the advisory issued by Union health ministry”.

Trains, flights services remain affected

Train services continued to remain affected in Chandigarh due to poor visibility. Shatabdi trains were badly hit s they continued to arrive late at their destinations.

The evening Shatabdi (12005) from New Delhi, which departs at 5.15 pm, was delayed by over three hours. Other Shatabdis were delayed by one to three hours.

According to Northern Railway officials, many trains were running late due to the smoggy weather.

On Friday, at Chandigarh airport, officials said one flight was delayed due to operational reasons. Officials said all the flights reached and departed on time from Chandigarh airport on Friday expect a Jet Airways flight to Mumbai which was delayed by half an hour.