Kolkata’s air quality drops ; surpasses Delhi

By: Pune Pulse

November 13, 2023

Pune: According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the city ranked as the most polluted metropolitan area in the country on Saturday. 

Despite both Kolkata and Delhi experiencing ‘poor’ air quality from 4pm on Friday to 4pm on Saturday, Kolkata had an air quality index (AQI) value of 269, whereas Delhi’s AQI value was 225.

The rain in the capital city brought about a positive outcome by mitigating the pollution effects. Chennai secured the third position with an AQI of 115, while Mumbai ranked fourth with a score of 90. Bangalore and Hyderabad recorded AQI levels of 90 and 94 respectively.

On Saturday evening, Delhi’s air is anticipated to be of very poor quality on Sunday and severe the following day. Meanwhile, scientists at the Bose Institute, predicted that Kolkata’s air quality during Diwali is expected to hover around 200-230 (poor). 

He further mentioned that although the overall air quality index (AQI) of the city is likely to be poor during Diwali, certain areas within Kolkata may experience a shift to very poor air quality.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) serves as an indicator of the overall air quality in a specific area. It is determined by analyzing the most prevalent pollutant during a given period. In the case of Kolkata and Delhi, PM 2.5, which is a highly toxic pollutant capable of deeply penetrating the lungs and causing various diseases, was identified as the dominant pollutant.

Based on data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Kolkata’s AQI has been experiencing a significant increase as winter approaches. Between November 5 and 10, the air quality transitioned from “moderate” to “poor”. According to the CPCB, poor air quality can result in breathing discomfort for most individuals upon prolonged exposure, while very poor air quality may lead to respiratory illnesses when exposed for an extended period of time.