Air quality worsens again, ‘poor’ in Noida, ‘very poor’ in Greater Noida

After a gap of 14 days, the air quality in Greater Noida has again plummeted, with the city recording an air quality index (AQI) reading of 332 on Friday and 329 on Saturday, both in the ”very poor” category.

The condition was not any better in Noida where the air quality remained “poor” on Saturday with an AQI reading of 286.Two of the four monitoring stations -- the ones in sectors 62 and 112-- recorded AQIs over 300, in the ”very poor” category. Both these stations are near the city borders and witness heavy traffic, said air quality experts, adding that the levels were marginally lower in sectors 125 and 1.

In neighbouring Ghaziabad, the air quality remained poor with an AQI reading of 284, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)’s 4pm bulletin.

According to the CPCB, an AQI reading between 0 and 50 is considered ”good”, 51 and 100 “satisfactory”, 101 and 200 ”moderate”, 201 and 300 ”poor”, 301 and 400 ”very poor”, and 401 and 500 ”severe”.

In Greater Noida, the pollution levels had last worsened to the ”very poor” category on November 11 when the AQI reading was 311. It then improved to the ”poor” category for most part of the past fortnight, except for three days when it improved marginally to enter the ”moderate” category. In fact the AQI on November 24 was 197, in the “moderate” category, which spiked overnight to 332 or “ very poor” on November 25, the CPCB data showed.

Officials said this sudden rise may be due to a change in wind direction over the past two days as well as the location of the monitoring stations in Greater Noida.

“The wind direction over the past two days has been causing higher pollution as it passes through parts of Delhi, Faridabad and Greater Noida, skipping Noida and Ghaziabad. We have not noticed any sudden change in local pollution sources,” said Radhey Shyam, regional officer, UPPCB, Greater Noida.

The AQI was 294 (poor) in Faridabad and 336 (very poor) in Delhi on Saturday.

He added that the two monitoring stations that record data in Greater Noida are in Knowledge Park 3 and Knowledge Park 5, which do not accurately show the pollution levels across the city.

“The station in Knowledge Park 3 is at a busy intersection with an auto stand near it. These two stations are not accurate representations for the entire city and we are considering relocating them. Overall, Greater Noida has dense plantation, low traffic volume and less construction activity, compared most other NCR cities. So, the stations should also be suitably placed,” said Shyam.

He added that in the past two days, penalties amounting to ₹26 lakh has been imposed on construction sites that were found flouting norms.

As per the CPCB’s air quality warning system, the AQI is expected to remain in the “very poor” category over the next six days.

With the winter months starting, the pollutions levels may remain high for the next few months, warned air quality experts.

To bring all implementing agencies together and discuss a possible solution, the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board officials have organised a day-long workshop on Monday on ”capacity building and interchange of best practices for control and abatement of air pollution in UP-NCR”. Officials said the workshop will focus on increasing awareness and brainstorming ways in which the government departments and other implementing agencies can try to reduce local sources of pollution.