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Diwali

Air Quality in Uttar Pradesh Cities Worsens Ahead of Diwali

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

As the festival season approaches, many Uttar Pradesh cities, including Lucknow, are experiencing deteriorating air quality. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), eight U.P. cities recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of over 200 on Sunday, with Bulandshahr hitting a peak of 310, the worst in the country. The pollution control board has installed monitoring stations in Lucknow, where the AQI rose to 163, causing discomfort to people with lung and heart disorders. Environmentalists are urging residents to skip morning walks in the coming days to avoid exposure to the polluted air.

Key Takeaways:

  • Eight Uttar Pradesh cities, including Lucknow, recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of over 200 on Sunday, with Bulandshahr hitting a peak of 310.
  • The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has installed five monitoring stations in Lucknow to track air quality.
  • Environmentalists are urging residents to skip morning walks in the coming days to avoid exposure to the polluted air.
  • The pollution control board has expressed concerns over the worsening air quality ahead of Diwali.
  • Poor road infrastructure and construction sites contributed 80-87 per cent to air pollution in Lucknow, according to research by The Energy and Resources Institute and IIT Kanpur.
  • Environmentalist U P Tripathi and NGO president Hemlata Sharma are among those who have expressed concerns and taken measures to avoid exposure to polluted air.

Statistics:

  • Air Quality Index (AQI) in Bulandshahr: 310
  • AQI in Muzaffarnagar: 280
  • AQI in Meerut: 274
  • AQI in Ghaziabad: 270
  • AQI in Kanpur: 266
  • AQI in Noida: 236
  • AQI in Hapur: 230
  • AQI in Baghpat: 227
  • AQI in Lucknow: 163 (average)
  • Percentage of air pollution contribution from poor road infrastructure and construction sites: 80-87%
  • Number of monitoring stations installed in Lucknow: 5

Sources:

  • Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
  • The Energy and Resources Institute
  • IIT Kanpur
  • Hindustan Times
  • Interviews with environmentalist U P Tripathi and NGO president Hemlata Sharma

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