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Kolkata, Pre-Diwali Air Quality and An Impending Predicament

9th November 2023 , West Bengal

Details

Post Durga Puja, the air quality of Kolkata is deteriorating rapidly. A study by SwitchON Foundation analysed data from 7 CPCB CAAQMS stations across the city and revealed that the AQI has degraded considerably reaching upper Moderate conditions and has escalated to the Poor category on 8th as the cold wave sets in along with Diwali festivities.

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The data was collected post-Durga Puja Festivities between 29th October 2023 to 8th November 2023. These marked the dates for the end of the Idol immersion processions on 28th October and the beginning of the sale and bursting of firecrackers from 7th of November onwards.

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The 7 stations studied were: Ballygunge, Kolkata - WBPCB, Bidhannagar, Kolkata - WBPCB, Fort William, Kolkata - WBPCB, Jadavpur, Kolkata - WBPCB, Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata - WBPCB, Victoria, Kolkata - WBPCB, Rabindra Sarobar, Kolkata - WBPCB

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The mean daily AQI, PM2.5 and PM10 have consistently remained in the Moderate zone since the end of Durga Puja. The highest recorded daily Mean AQI was on 7th November at 208 with mean PM2.5 at 92.31 ug/m3 and mean PM10 at 167.97 ug/m3 respectively, far above the permissible limits of 50 and 100 ug/m3 respectively. It is evident that the onset of winter along with the increase in vehicular emissions as the city returns to normal activities coupled with the bursting of firecrackers might be triggering the increase.

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