PUNE: Scientists fear that Thursday will be the most polluted day here during this year’s Diwali even as Pune will be less polluted than Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad.A report by Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology’s (IITM) Pune System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) has forecast that November 8 is likely to be the most polluted day during the four-day festival.The city’s air quality may be in the “poor” category for the first time after a long time.Particulate matter or PM2.5 levels are likely to exceed the permissible limit of 60g/m3 and touch the 96 g/m3-mark on Thursday. Air quality is also likely to degrade to “poor” as the air quality index (AQI) may cross 200. An AQI between 201 and 300 is indicative of poor air quality.Smoke from firecrackers lit on November 7 will add to the toxic load in the Pune’s air on November 8, the report hinted, adding that the calm wind conditions will ensure that the load remains suspended in the air on Thursday.SAFAR project director and IITM scientist Gufran Beig said Pune city seems to be the least polluted city this Diwali in comparison to Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad.“It recently rained in Pune, which worked in the city’s favour on the initial days of Diwali, November 6 and 7. The rain washed off the initial pollution. But the pollution levels will peak on November 8 because most people will burn firecrackers on the night of November 7,” he said.“The pollutants are expected to accumulate in the intervening night of November 7 and 8, as the temperature will also fall during that time. The early hours of November 8 morning are likely to see significant pollution as pollutants may increase after 12am on the intervening night of November 7 and 8,” Beig added.The prevailing weather conditions will aggravate the high smoke level and push the air quality to the ‘poor’ range, a day after Diwali day (Nov 8), after which the AQI may improve to the ‘moderate’ range,” he said.The highest levels of PM10 and PM2.5 are expected between 11pm and 3am on the night of November 7-8, while Shivajinagar and Lohegaon would be the most polluted areas in Pune.“Shivajinagar is already a polluted area. Lohegaon witnesses a lot of construction activities. Besides, both the areas have a lot of residential colonies,” he said.The Air Quality Forecast for the Diwali-2018 period was issued based on the indigenous high-resolution atmospheric chemistry transport model known as ‘SAFAR-AQ Forecasting Model’.

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