NEW DELHI: The summer of 2022 was not only unusually hot, but also had an uncharacteristically high presence of particulate pollution in the air, especially in north India, according to a new analysis by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Delhi-NCR was found to be the most polluted sub-region in north India, with summer average PM2.5 at 71 µg/m³. Bhiwadi’s summer average was the highest at 134 micrograms per cubic metre, followed by Manesar (119 µg/m³), Ghaziabad (101 µg/m³), Delhi (97 µg/m³), Gurugram (94 µg/m³) and Noida (80 µg/m³). Delhi-NCR’s average PM2.5 was almost thrice as that of cities in south India. The report, which was released on Wednesday, is based on Central Pollution Control Board’s real-time air quality data between March 1 and May 31, 2022. Overall, Delhi has been ranked eighth in the country. Twelve cities in Delhi-NCR featured among the 20 most polluted in India while five from Haryana were among the worst 10. Aiwzal in Mizoram and Gummidipoondi in Tamil Nadu were the least polluted cities in the country this summer. Track the pollution level in your city“Summer particulate pollution spikes due to arid conditions, high summer heat and temperature, and more airborne dust particles that travel long distances, compounding the problem from local sources,” says Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, CSE. According to the analysis, north India recorded a staggering 23% increase in seasonal PM2.5 level compared with the previous summer, based on an average of cities that have valid daily PM2.5 concentration data of both summers (March 1 to May 31). NCR fared the worst, with a 25.8% increase in seasonal PM2.5 level. “Several regions experienced high particulate pollution when heat-wave conditions were also widespread and intense,” said Avikal Somvanshi, senior programme manager at Urban Lab.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/summer-of-2022-delhi-ncr-most-polluted-in-north-india/articleshow/93763273.cms
