1. Kolkata experiences a decline in air quality after Chhath Puja celebrations featuring firecrackers.
2. Foggy conditions during winter exacerbate the situation by limiting the dispersion of particulate matter.
3. The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) for the city reaches 128, with varying AQI values recorded at specific locations.
Kolkata, Nov 20: The air quality in Kolkata deteriorated on Monday morning following Chhath Puja celebrations involving firecrackers, exacerbating pollution levels in the city.
Additionally, the onset of winter and foggy conditions hindered the dispersion of particulate matter. The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) for the city was recorded at 128, with specific AQI values at various locations, such as 151 at Dhakuria, 170 at Fort William, 107 at Jadavpur, 124 at Rabindra Sarobar, and 162 at the Victoria Memorial area.
An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered ‘good,’ 51 to 100 ‘satisfactory,’ 101 to 200 ‘moderate,’ 201 to 300 ‘poor,’ 301 to 400 ‘very poor,’ 401 to 450 ‘severe,’ and above 450 ‘severe plus.’
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Despite the ban on Chhath Puja celebrations at Rabindra Sarobar, environmentalists noted that the indiscriminate use of firecrackers in areas like Ballygunj, Jadavpur, Patuli, Narkeldanga, Babughat, and Princep Ghat negatively impacted air quality.
The situation worsened as firecrackers were used extensively, peaking on Monday morning. Over the weekend, the city’s AQI ranged between 85 and 110. Devotees performed puja at 150 ghats along lakes and ponds in the city, along with 18 ghats along the Hooghly River, contributing to the pollution levels.
