Pollution level higher this Diwali as compared to last year: Report
New Delhi : The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on Sunday said that the pollution level was higher this year as compared to the last year, mainly because of stubble burning and unfavorable meteorology during the festival season.
CPCB in its report claimed all pollution levels higher on Diwali day as compared to the ones last year on the same date.
"Diwali was in mid-November this year which has unfavourable meteorological conditions for dispersal of pollutants as compared to 2019 when it was in last week of October," it said, according to news agency PTI.
"The contribution of stubble burning in Delhi’s PM2.5 concentration was 32 per cent on Diwali day this year as compared to 19 per cent last year. Therefore, it may be inferred that elevated PM2.5 concentrations in 2020 in comparison to previous year had enhanced contribution of stubble burning and the same is also reflected in elevated levels of CO and NO2," it added.
On Saturday night, the air quality dipped to severe in several places in New Delhi.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) for PM 2.5 pollutant stood at 481 in Anand Vihar, 444 in IGI Airport area, 457 in ITO, and 414 in Lodhi Road area, all four in the ‘severe’ category, at 11 pm on Saturday, according to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) data.
A thick blanket of smog was seen at several places across the national capital as the Diwali celebrations came to an end late Saturday night. Meanwhile, the air quality was at 460 at Anand Vihar, 382 at IGI Airport area, 415 at ITO, and 322 at Lodhi Road for PM 10 pollutant.
