City gasps for breath as air deteriorates to worst in yr

Ludhiana: The city gasped for breath a day after Diwali, when it recorded this year’s poorest air. The Air Quality Index (AQI) was 292 on Friday. However, it was better than previous years.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) media bulletin, the AQI in Ludhiana at 4pm Thursday was 209, which fell under poor category with possible health impacts as “breathing discomfort to most people on prolonged exposure”. The hourly data from 4pm Thursday till Friday morning showed pollution levels started rising from Thursday evening.
The AQI was 208 by 5pm Thursday. It increased from 212 to 225 between 8pm and 10pm, when bursting of green crackers was allowed.
The AQI was 242 by 12am Friday and 258 by 2am. It rose to 300 at 10am Friday and decreased to 296 by Friday noon. At 4pm Friday, it was 292.
The previous year, the AQI on Diwali evening (at 4pm on November 14) was 300, which was in poor category. It increased to 307 by 5pm, which came under very poor category. Between 8pm and 10 pm, when green crackers were allowed, it rose from 321 to 332. A day after Diwali, the index was 345 at 4pm.
In 2019, the AQI on Diwali was 239 at 4pm October 27. A day after the festival, it was recorded at 353.
A Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) official said, “Many people burst crackers even after the deadline. Fall in AQI on Diwali and the day after this year is a good sign, as it shows decrease in pollution levels as compared with the previous years.”
Residents said the authorities failed to enforce the rules.
“Most of the people started bursting crackers 9.30pm to post-12am. It being an election year, the authorities did not crackdown on those flouting the 8pm-10pm time period. A positive aspect was that fewer children burst crackers. Previous years, police vehicles would use hooters after the deadline, which restrained people from bursting crackers. But this time, nothing was done. Elderly and children suffer because of rise in pollution,” said green activist Dr Amandeep Bains.