Noida Supertech twin towers: No spike in AQI, data indicates dust cloud didn't spread far, rain helps

NOIDA: The Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) recorded a sharp rise in PM 10 in the immediate vicinity of the twin towers on Sunday afternoon after their demolition, but the overall air quality in Noida did not see any conspicuous impact because of the dust cloud.
With rains in the city on Monday and the Noida Authority implementing dust mitigation measures at the demolition site, the situation will likely improve further.
Experts believe the implosion generated PM 10 and particulate matter above that size, but since they were heavy, they settled down around the demolition site and did not travel far. Prof Sirajuddin Ahmad, head of the department of environmental science in Jamia Millia Islamia, said, "The C&D waste generates PM 10, which is heavy and settles down in 3-4 hours. Noida's existing stations, which are distant from the twin towers, may not record the exact readings of these particles. Noida Authority also took prompt measures and engaged anti-smoke guns and water sprinklers, which helped the dust to settle down. On Monday, it also rained, which aided dust mitigation."
Noida's four stations recorded PM 10 between 110-160 (ug/m³) from Saturday-Monday, recording no major spike or variation after the demolition. They are at Sector 1, Sector 62, Sector 116 and Sector 125. From the demolition site, the Sector 125 station is the nearest -- 6.4 km away.
For monitoring pollution levels near the demolition site, the UPPCB had installed air quality monitoring stations at Parsvnath Prestige, City Park and Barat Ghar Gejha in Sector 93A, Omaxe Forest Spa in Sector 93B, Ace Capitol in Sector 132, and Parx Laureate in Sector 108. These stations recorded PM 10 and PM 2.5 data in eight-hour shifts (6 am-2 pm, 2 pm-10 pm, and 10 pm-6 am), with the data shared within 24 hours.
The pollution data for Saturday and Sunday shows nearly similar pollution levels from 6 am-2 pm, but the pollution levels rose in the 2 am-10 pm period. The thick dust cloud from the demolition site had swiftly spread around, with the wind blowing it towards Parsvnath Prestige, where the air quality station recorded the highest PM 10 at 676 (ug/m³) from 2 pm-10 pm against Saturday's 81 (ug/m³) -- an 8.34 times rise. The PM 2.5 on Saturday at this station was 17 (g/m³), which increased to 141 (g/m³) on Sunday -- an 8.29 times rise. Similarly, the other stations also recorded a rise in pollution levels.
Praveen Kumar, UPPCB Noida officer, said the department is constantly monitoring the air quality in the area. "We monitor the air quality and share the information with Noida Authority, which is taking dust mitigating measures," he said. The department will keep up the monitoring till August 31.
Ravi Kapoor, a resident of Emerald Court Aster 2, who returned home on Monday, said, "Officials are conducting dust mitigation exercises and there is no smell of explosives in the area. There is also no problem in breathing," he said.