Chandigarh's air quality index has become "dangerous" in recent years and this season it assumed alarming proportions.
Chandigarh pollution control committee (CPCC) has noted the highest air index Quality of 365 last month on November 16, which is three times higher than the normal figure. This triggers several diseases of respiratory system and is dangerous for the kids and older people.
Ironically, the RSPM has been noted to be more than 218 percent higher than the figures of last year. Dropping index level can cause severe breathing discomfort to people with lung, heart diseases, asthma etc. Prolonged exposure in such dangerous levels could be quite harmful to the human health.
sCPCC said that the Air Quality index (AQI) has plunged to a "Very Poor" cartegorisaton after measuring it in industrial Area Chandigarh, Sector-17, Punjab Engineering College, Govt. Collage for girls (IMTECH-39) and Kaimbwala village.
The respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) levels were three times more than the permissible limit of 100 microgram per cubic meter (mg/m3). The highest of 362 was was recorded at sector-17, 344 at Imtech and 336 at Kaimbwala. There are six AQI categories, good, satisfactory, moderately polluted, poor, very poor and severe.
CPCC data show that the industrial area RSPM is very poor and continues to rise every year. In 2013, the RSPM volume here was 125 which now is 131. The normal index is 60 which mean the RSPM volume is more than double at present. The RSPM volume in 2014 was 114, in 2015 it was 96 and 2016 it was 131.
On December 5 this year, air index recorded by the CPCC in Sector-17 was 247 257 at Kembwala and 290 in Imtec-39.
Pawan Jit Singh Dadwal, Member Secretary, Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee, said that paddy straw burning in adjoining states was the main reason for poor Quality of air index in Chandigarh. He said low wind velocity, dry air and cold season have aggravaated the situation. "The Quality of air deterioration during this time of the year has become a Norm in recent years," he added.