For 1st time in 4 yrs, poor AQI for 10 consecutive days in a month

Ludhiana: For the first time in four years, the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) remained in poor-to-very poor category for 11 consecutive days in a month.
Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) authorities said the poor air was mainly because of atmospheric reasons.
As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, the AQI in Ludhiana was more than 200 from November 7 to 17. Of the 11 days, the AQI was poor on 10 days, with possible health impacts as “breathing discomfort to most people on prolonged exposure”. On one day (November 9), the AQI was 306, which comes under very poor category, with possible health impacts as “respiratory illness on prolonged exposure”.
This is for the first time after 2018 that the city’s air has remained poor for these many days in a row. In October 2017, the AQI was more than 200 for 16 days in a row. In the same year in November, AQI was above 200 for 14 consecutive days. In May 2018, the index was more than 200 on eight consecutive days, but had not crossed the mark in October and November.
According to the CPCB data, in October and November 2019, the AQI was more than 200 on nine consecutive days and was poor to very poor on six consecutive days, respectively.
In October and November 2020, the AQI crossed 200 mark on three and five consecutive days, respectively.
Ludhiana witnessed 12 days of poor to very poor air quality in first half of November this year as well as in the corresponding period last year. In November 2019, such number of days was 11.
Member secretary of PPCB Krunesh Garg said, “Drop in temperature and lower wind speed have affected the dispersal of pollutants, which is why the AQI is poor. As farm fires are going down, the AQI is expected to improve. Rains and winds can take away air pollutants, improving AQI.”
A resident said, “First, because of bursting of crackers and then due to stubble burning the air quality has suffered. The authorities should act sternly to check pollution.”