New Delhi: The enduring environmental challenge of air pollution continues to cast a long shadow over India, with the national capital once again claiming the dubious distinction of being the country's most polluted city for the period spanning October 2022 to September 2023. This disheartening revelation emerged from a comprehensive report issued by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Furthermore, the air quality in other major cities such as Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata also witnessed a decline during this timeframe, signaling the pervasive nature of the issue. Adding to the alarming trend, Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, experienced a substantial surge in its air pollution levels.
According to the report jointly compiled by Climate Trends and Respirer Living Sciences, Delhi recorded a PM2.5 (particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less) level of 100.1 µg/m3 between October 1, 2022, and September 30, 2023. Although this figure marked a slight improvement compared to the previous year's average of 103.9 µg/m3 recorded between October 2021 and September 2022, Delhi's grim reign as the most polluted city in the country persisted unabated.
Trailing closely behind Delhi was Patna, which reported a PM2.5 concentration of 99.7 µg/m3. Muzaffarpur, another district in Bihar, occupied the third position on the list with a PM2.5 level of 95.4 µg/m3. The National Capital Region (NCR) districts of Faridabad, Noida, Ghaziabad, and Meerut followed suit. Notably, these NCR districts recorded a decrease in PM2.5 levels compared to the previous year, with Ghaziabad witnessing the most significant decline of 25%.
The CPCB meticulously monitored air pollution levels in 131 non-attainment cities identified under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). Among these cities, Delhi emerged as the most severely affected by air pollution, raising grave concerns about the pervasive nature of this issue.
To gain a more comprehensive understanding of this situation, it is imperative to consider various factors. Last year, between October and December, PM2.5 levels in Delhi and several NCR districts experienced a decline compared to the figures from 2021. While this offered a glimmer of hope, the report underscores the need for a deeper analysis to ascertain the extent to which this improvement can be attributed to climatic factors like rainfall and wind, as opposed to more effective policies and interventions by relevant authorities and the government.
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