Breathing Trouble: Ram Nagar Tops Nagpur’s Pollution Chart with AQI 278
Nagpur, India: The air quality in Nagpur dropped to the ‘poor’ category on Tuesday, with all four air quality monitoring stations in the city recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) above 200.
The Ram Nagar station reported the highest AQI of 278 around 4 PM, making it the most polluted area in the city. Mahal was the second most polluted location.
The monitoring stations were installed in 2023 under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) to track pollution levels 24x7. This is the first time all stations have shown such high AQI levels, raising questions about the city’s efforts to reduce pollution.
Experts have warned that poor air quality can cause health problems. Residents are advised to wear masks, avoid outdoor activities during high-pollution hours, and use air purifiers.
On Tuesday, the air quality in Nagpur deteriorated to a 'poor' level, with all four air quality monitoring stations recording AQI above 200. The highest reading of 278 was reported at the Ram Nagar station around 4 pm. Mahal was the second most polluted area, with an AQI of 235 recorded at 11 am. The General Post Office (GPO) station in Civil Lines recorded an AQI of 220, and Ambazari had an AQI of 218 at 5 pm.
Nagpur is on the CPCB's list of non-attainment cities, which means it struggles to meet air quality standards. Since 2019, the government has been releasing funds to help improve air quality in such cities. The city's air pollution is mainly caused by construction activities, infrastructure development, and traffic.
Though the temperature had increased recently, with the minimum temperature rising above 13°C, the air quality worsened on Tuesday. According to the CPCB, an AQI of 50 or below is 'good,' 51-100 is 'satisfactory,' 101-200 is 'moderately polluted,' 201-300 is 'poor,' 301-400 is 'very poor,' and an AQI above 400 is considered 'severe.'
-t-thumb.jpeg)
