Pollution levels declined in Punjab this Diwali: PPCB

The pollution levels across Punjab this Diwali have significantly declined as compared to last year, the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) said today.
The air quality analysis by the PPCB shows that the pollution level had increased by just 24 per cent this Diwali, compared to an 70 per cent increase last year, the board said here.
Last year, the state's air quality index (AQI) a day ahead of Diwali was recorded at 130. It increased by 70 per cent, to 228, ontheday of the festival, thedata releasedby the PPCB said.
This year theAQI increased to 328 from 265, indicating anincrease in pollution level of only 24 per cent, the board said.

The percentage increase in AQI inMandiGobindgarhhas been recorded at 17 per cent this year as compared to about 163 per cent last year, a PPCB spokesman said, giving city- wise details.
The increase in AQI in Ludhiana was 24 per cent this year as compared to 50 per cent lastyear. In Amritsar city, it was 45 per cent compared to 63 per cent recorded last Diwali, he said.
The spokesman said that the level ofRespirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) this year has been higher because of low level of air dispersion due to very low wind velocity and early harvesting of paddy crop.

Incidents of paddy straw burning saw a three timesincrease on Diwali. There 1,188 incidents as compared to the average of 400 per day, he said.