Chhattisgarh's capital Raipur recorded higher air pollution on Diwali day as compared to last year. As per data released by the Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board (CECB), there was a rise of 4.95 percent in particulate matter (PM10), 2.37 percent in PM2.5, sulphur dioxide (SO2) rose by 2.13 percent and nitrous oxide (NO2) by 2.66 percent.
As per standards, the annual average of PM2.5 should be 40 units and in 24 hours should not exceed 60 units. The PM10 annual average should be 15 but the average in India has been fixed as between 40-60 units. CECB monitors air quality starting from a week before Diwali and a week after Diwali in Raipur, Bhilai-Durg and Ambikapur.