Neha Saini Amritsar, November 4 Waking up to a thick layer of smog seems to have become a norm for Amritsar residents as pollution concern in Punjab continues to rise amid deteriorating air quality. The air quality ranging from poor to unhealthy post Diwali and stubble burning has been adding to the problem. There seems to be no solution at least for now. The air quality index for Amritsar has been hovering between 272 and 242 since Diwali and it was reportedly 173 on November 4, better than Patiala and Bathinda. With air quality being declared severe to very poor in Punjab, the situation can only improve with predicted rainfall. Ruchira Kapoor, yoga practitioner, said, “Waking up to dense smog has become a norm. The morning and evening visibility has been reduced. There is a health emergency in Delhi due to smog. Though the situation here in the city might not be as bad as Delhi, we are definitely heading towards a similar situation.” Ruchira has been conducting yoga workshops at the Company Bagh, but past Diwali, she has cancelled her classes due to bad air quality. “There is also a problem of vehicular pollution that remains unchecked. I feel that for the coming days, the burden of vehicular pollution should be reduced till the situation improves,” she said. Ivneet Singh, member of the Resident Welfare Association (RWA), Green Avenue, said they had been distributing masks to elderly who come for morning walk. “Normally, the region experiences such smog every year after the paddy harvesting season. Despite guidelines of the National Green Tribunal and the ban orders issued by the district administration, stubble burning continues unabatedly. The effort should be on carrying out excessive plantation of trees that boost oxygen level.”

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