Bhubaneswar: Air pollution is no more a grievous issue only in the National Capital Region (NCR). The situation is equally alarming in some cities of Odisha, including the state capital Bhubaneswar.
On Friday, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 187, slightly higher than Thursday (December 5, 2024) morning’s reading of 161, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data
At 4 pm, the AQI was 319 (very poor) in Angul and 267 (poor) in Bhubaneswar. The air quality was equally poor in Cuttack at 202, Jajpur’s Byasanagar at 205 while the AQI in Talcher was recorded at a moderate 154.
AQI in Odisha is 1.15 times above than in India, according to aqi.in.
Angul was the fourth most polluted city in the country recording an AQI (Air Quality Index) of 323, while neighbouring Talcher took the sixth spot with an AQI of 302 on Thursday night.
State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) officials attributed the sudden spike in air pollution in the twin industrial towns to ongoing road expansion work and coal and mineral transporting vehicles.
On Thursday, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Balasore were also among 20 most polluted cities in India.
Last Monday, air quality in Bhubaneswar was far worse than the national capital Delhi. While the AQI in Delhi was 178, in Bhubaneswar it was 266. Bhubaneswar, Balasore, Angul, Talcher and Byasanagar were among the 25 most polluted cities in India on that day.
The amount of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and dust particles in the air in these cities make air too unsafe to breathe. The poor air quality results in thousands of people suffering from several respiratory diseases, cardiac arrests, asthma and several other serious ailments.
Angul-Talcher industrial area has been identified as one of the world’s largest nitrogen dioxide (NO2) emission hot-spots.
During Diwali, the AQI in Delhi was between 400 and 500, which was extremely dangerous. But since then it has improved a lot. On the contrary, the AQI in four to five Odisha cities is rising dangerously.
In January, six cities from Odisha were among the 16 to record very poor AQI, reaching levels of above 300. AQI of industrial town Angul was 352 surpassing Delhi’s 345,. This was followed by Cuttack (340), Bhubaneswar and Balasore (334), and Keonjhar at 326.
It is worth mentioning that while the AQI between 101 and 200 is considered to be normal and safe for breathing, it’s the worst between 401 and 500.
