Patna AQI 426, worst this season, highest in country

PATNA: Wednesday had the worst air quality in

Patna

this season as its air quality index (AQI) reached 426 at 4pm making it the most polluted city in the country for the second consecutive day. Muzaffarpur was the second most polluted city with overall

AQI

at 404.


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According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, Patna’s air quality remained in the ‘severe’ category despite a slew of measures taken by the authorities concerned to curb

air pollution

. The city skyline remained hazy as the AQI kept oscillating between 425 and 436 throughout the day, as per the data of a mobile application ‘Sameer’, which provides hourly updates on the national AQI published by the CPCB.

It has become unbearable for residents to move in the open, especially at Bailey Road, Ashok Rajpath, Gandhi Maidan, Exhibition Road, Fraser Road and Phulwarisharif where vehicular traffic is excessive during the day.

Kavya Singh, a student of Patna Women’s College, said although dust is not visible, one feels uneasiness in breathing. “I have bought medicated anti-pollution mask to protect myself,” she said.

Priyank Sinha (47) of Brahmasthan Path said he has stopped morning walk for the past one week. “I do exercise and yoga at home. I have sinus problem. So, the doctor has advised me to remain indoors during such weather conditions,” he said.

Praveen Chauhan, a chemist at Govind Mitra Road, said the demand for single and double filter masks is all time high. “Over 40 persons buy masks per day. Earlier, the demand for these masks was almost negligible,” he told this newspaper.

The environment experts blamed unfavourable weather conditions like calm wind, cloudy weather and decrease in temperature for so much air pollution.

Pradhan Parth Sarthi, professor at Department of Environmental Science in Central University of South Bihar (CUSB) and president of Patna chapter of Indian Meteorological Society said calm winds favour stagnation of pollutants in the troposphere. “The air quality will not improve unless there is rainfall or increase in wind velocity. It is possible only when there will be west disturbances in the Himalayan region or northwesterly wind,” he said.

An expert at Bihar State Pollution Control Board said 433 AQI was the highest this season. “In May, Patna had recorded the year’s highest with 470 AQI,” he said.

The officials at environment, forest and

climate change

department said advisories have been issued to the departments concerned for implementation of several steps to curb air pollution. However, there is no coordination between the departments concerned.

Patna Municipal Corporation’s public relation officer SK Mishra said water sprinkling and sweeping of roads are being done mechanically in each circle. “Six sweeping machines in each circle are being used per day during night hours,” he said.

However, Hemlata Sharma of Rajendra Nagar (road number 12) said the machine only sweeps the road without sprinkling water. “Because of that the stagnant pollutants on the road get scattered in the air and make it more unbearable for the residents,” she complained.


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