Rain improves AQI, gives Gurugram 2nd good air day this month

GURUGRAM: Rain has helped the air quality improve significantly in the city this month. In last 20 days, the air quality index (AQI) was hovering around the ‘satisfactory’ and ‘good’ levels.
For the second time in a month, the AQI was recorded at 42 (good) on Wednesday. The same on Tuesday was recorded at 80. However, on Thursday the AQI went back to the satisfactory level and was recorded at 90.
The Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) officials said that the improvement in the AQI is because of the rains. “In the last one month, the air quality was at a satisfactory mark. Because of rains, the dust has settled down and the AQI has improved,” said Shakti Singh, regional officer, HSPCB. The city witnessed two ‘good’ air days in August so far, however, it is important to note that it did not fall to the poor or very poor category because less number of vehicles are on the roads owing to Covid-19, an HSPCB official pointed out.
In Faridabad, however, the AQI remained in the “satisfactory” category. On Wednesday, it was recorded at 70 and on Thursday the AQI was 71.
Officials said that the PM2.5 levels have also come down in the city. On Thursday, the PM2.5 was recorded at 40 micrograms per cubic meter(µg/m³) and on Wednesday, it was 47 µg/m³ in Gurugram at the Vikas Sadan. The permissible limit for PM 2.5 is 60 µg/m³.
This clearly indicates that the pollutants in the atmosphere are in the limit. Similarly, in Faridabad, the PM 2.5 on Thursday was 32 µg/m³ and on Wednesday was 36 µg/m³, as per the date of the Sector16-A air quality centre.