Jammu:
Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Board (PCB) on Wednesday said that this Diwali on November 14, the air quality of Jammu city remained 'moderate' as per the Air Quality Index Data on the basis of Ambient Air Quality Monitoring results for RSPM PM 10, PM 2.5, SO2 and NO2 as NAMP monitoring locations.
Chairman, J&K Pollution Control Board, Suresh Chugh said that the Air Quality Index (AQI) of Jammu city on this Diwali eve was 186 and the mean level of particulate matter PM10 and PM2.5 were 229ug/m3 and 58.8ug/m3 respectively.
"The AQI prior this Diwali was recorded to be 172 and has seen an increase of 8.13 percent on Diwali day as compared to an increase of 3.17 percent in 2019," he added.
Pertinent to mention here is that the National Green Tribunal on November 9, had banned the sale and use of fire crackers in cities with 'poor' and 'very poor' Air Quality like NCR Delhi and allowed only the use of 'Green Crackers' in areas and cities with 'moderate' or 'satisfactory' air quality.
Member Secretary, J&K Pollution Control Board, B M Sharma, said that despite the enforcement of ban on fire crackers by the government, the possible reasons for relative degradation in air quality in this Diwali as compared to last year's can be attributed to the prolonged dry spell before Diwali which led to larger amount suspended particulate matter in the air, which led to higher Ambient Air Quality particulate matter being recorded.
"However, immediately after Diwali due to heavy rains in Jammu and other areas and AQI of Jammu came down to 95 which is 'satisfactory'," he added.