Gurugram air pollution shoots up to ‘severe’ overnight

26 Nov 2016

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Weeks after the air pollution levels in Gurugram (Gurgaon) rose to 'severe' category in the wake of the Diwali festival, the 'particulate matter' (PM) 2.5 in the city, which had subsided, again shot up to the maximum level of 248u/mg on Thursday evening, according the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

The PM2.5 levels in the city is now four times higher than the permissible limit of 60u/mg.

The Millennium City on Thursday had an air quality index (AQI) of 177, marked as unhealthy.

"Ideally, there should not have been such a steep increase in the PM 2.5 (fine particulate matter which is an air pollutant) levels overnight. We will have to check and figure out the cause for the same," a Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) official told The Times of India, referring to the recorded PM 2.5 levels on Wednesday (80u/mg).

The official also pointed out that the department is regularly monitoring air quality in the city and it will also inspect the construction sites to check if the pollution norms are being violated.

Meanwhile, experts are of the view that the government will have to take more stringent measures and merely banning construction activities will not improve the air quality.

"The pollution levels are only bound to come down in the coming days. In the long term, more trees need to be planted; roads will have to be cleaned. With a sizeable pollution being caused due to the dust particles, authorities must take the task of cleaning seriously," said environmentalist Vivek Kamboj.

Kamboj added that the new sweeping machines procured by the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) are also not being put to proper use.

Air quality levels had hit the severe category levels (800 u/mg) in the city post Diwali due to several reasons including burning of crackers and stubble burning in the neighbouring states, apart from low wind speed. However, after meteorological changes and an increase in the wind speed, the pollution levels had normalised.

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