The News Freedom (www.thenewsfreedom.in)
Chandigarh, November 13
Punjab has observed an average air quality index (AQI) reduction of 7.6 percent from the last year 2022 and 22.8 percent as compared to 2021. Sharing information on Monday Environment Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer said that as per the directions of the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to strive for improving air quality, the PPCB has installed Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) in six cities of Punjab namely Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Khanna, Mandi Gobindgarh and Patiala to monitor the ambient air quality on a real-time basis. The comparative level of AQI value during Diwali-2023 day vis-à-vis previous year Diwali-2022 and 2021 days was improved. The values are based on the data From 7 am on the day of Diwali to 6 am the day after Diwali.
In an official statement issued here, the Minister further said that the five cities Amritsar, Ludhiana, Khanna, Mandi Gobindgarh and Patiala recorded a reduction in the AQI during this year’s Diwali as compared to the last two year’s Diwali. The Average AQI of Punjab this Diwali was 207 (which is marginally higher than the maximum AQI value of 200 for the moderate category) as compared to 224 in 2022 and 268 in 2021.
Meet Hayer said that the maximum AQI was recorded at Amritsar this year with an AQI value of 235. Also last year maximum value of AQI 262 was observed in Amritsar. However, in 2021 maximum value of AQI 327 ( very poor) was observed in Jalandhar. The minimum AQI for this year was recorded in Mandi Gobindgarh with an AQI value of 153 against last year’s value of 188 and also in 2021 with an AQI value of 220. The maximum AQI reduction in this year was observed in Mandi Gobindgarh (18.6%).
The Punjab Pollution Control Board thanks the people of the State of Punjab for following the advisory issued concerning the period fixed for bursting of firecrackers and using the green crackers for celebrations of the Diwali festival, resulting in an overall improvement in Air Quality as compared to last year 2022 and 2021 also.
The people of Punjab are also requested to follow the advisory issued by the state government with respect to the timings and use of green crackers for the coming festivals this year.