PM 2.5 concentration in Lucknow still six times higher than the safe limits at 343
High humidity mixed with low temperature and low wind velocity increase the level of pollutants. Air quality to remain in the ‘very poor’ category for the next two months
Experts fear that the air quality of Lucknow will remain bad for another two months because of the weather conditions.
Lucknow’s air quality has been under scrutiny since the last month, when in an astonishing move city’s air quality index (AQI) surpassed that of Delhi to make Lucknow the second most polluted city in the country after Kanpur.
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The data isn’t shocking anymore, since Lucknowites have become habitual to the excessive levels of air pollution that is the result of high vehicle density, unending construction and the weather.
The concentration of pollutants increase when the temperature is low and humidity high, which has remained the case with Lucknow for almost two months. Experts also believe that the weather conditions will not improve for at least another two months and the concentration of pollutant PM 2.5 will further increase.
Owing to the high levels of pollution, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has kept Lucknow in the ‘very poor’ category since mid October. When, on October 13, the city’s AQI peaked and crossed the 300 mark, since then the AQI has been bouncing between ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’. On Thursday city’s AQI was 20 units away from ‘severe’ at 380, while on Sunday it was recorded at 343.
Today, at 11 AM the PM 2.5 concentration in Nishatganj was recorded at 395, Lalbagh at 371, Gomti Nagar at 312 and Talkatora at 252. The concentration levels of PM 2.5 remained six times higher than the safe limit.
