Pollution in Patna grave than previous seasons

  • | Wednesday | 27th January, 2021

The city air quality started deteriorating early this winter compared to 2019, according to an analysis of winter air pollution in the cities in the Indo-Gangetic plains (IGP) by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

The city air quality started deteriorating early this winter compared to 2019, according to an analysis of winter air pollution in the cities in the Indo-Gangetic plains (IGP) by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

This analysis is a part of CSE’s air quality tracker initiative to study the changing patterns of air quality trends in the country. The survey was conducted in 26 cities in the IGP.

The Patna air quality started deteriorating from October 1 while the city witnessed the polluting week from December 3 to 6 when the air quality index (AQI) oscillated between 370 and 403, which was in ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ categories.
As per the report, the number of days with PM2.5 (particulate matter less than 2.5 microns) concentration meeting the standard was considerably low this winter with more ‘poor’ or ‘ very poor’ days. The city witnessed 11 severe days, 52 very poor, 19 poor, nine moderate, and only six satisfactory days between October 1, 2020, and January 10, 2021.

During the same period in 2019, Patna had 13 severe days, 60 very poor, five poor, three moderate and eight satisfactory days.

The average level of PM2.5 was lowest during last summer and monsoon due to the lockdown when Patna had its cleanest week in June and July. However, after the respective cleanest week, the weekly average of PM2.5 level in Patna rose to 11 times with the onset of winter from October, the report says.

Pradhan Parth Sarthi, a professor of environmental science at Central University of South Bihar (CUSB), said the change in air pollution is dependent on the meteorological conditions. “During the lockdown period, pollution from vehicles, factories, construction activities was almost negligible. Once the economic activities resumed, the air pollution level deteriorated,” he said.

A senior program officer at the Centre for Environment and Energy Development (CEED), Ankita Jyoti, said air quality in Patna has been deteriorating since 2015, but the parameters remain the same with minor fluctuations. “Besides meteorological conditions, the other contributors are brick kilns, vehicular movement, dust from construction sites, and burning of fuel. Due to non-implementation of the clean action plan, we have witnessed a fall in standard days,” she said.


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