On Sunday, Patna ranked as the second most polluted city in India, with an air quality index (AQI) of 316, which falls under the ‘very poor’ category. Other cities in the state, such as Siwan (282), Muzaffarpur (233), Hajipur (232), and Bettiah (221), also recorded ‘poor’ AQI levels. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) bulletin at 4 pm, Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh was the most polluted city in the country, with an AQI of 346.
Prolonged exposure to ‘very poor’ air quality can lead to respiratory illnesses, as stated by the CPCB. The AQI takes into consideration various pollutants, including PM 2.5 and PM 10, which are particulate matters with sizes less than 2.5 microns and 10 microns, respectively.
Devendra Kumar Shukla, the chairman of the Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB), informed PTI that the air quality has indeed worsened in certain cities of the state. This deterioration can be attributed to factors such as low wind speed, ongoing construction activities without proper pollution control measures, and recent fire incidents in Patna and its surrounding areas. Shukla emphasized the need for civic bodies to start sprinkling water to mitigate the declining AQI in the state capital. He also mentioned that rain would provide some immediate relief, and the BSPCB would intensify its efforts to address the deteriorating AQI levels in specific cities of the state.
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