For those who feared that air pollution levels on Diwali would skyrocket this year, Central Pollution Control Board has allayed such fears saying that the levels of pollution were generally lower than same time in 2008.
An analysis was conducted for monitoring the Ambient Air Quality during Diwali in which the sound level and ambient air quality (RSPM, SPM, SO2 and NO2) were measured at seven different locations in Chandigarh as per the directions of the Central Pollution Control Board.
The analysis found out that the RSPM level at all the locations was lower than the previous year. This year, RSPM level at Sector 22, Kaimbwala and Sector 29 was within the permissible limits whereas RSPM level at Panjab University, Kajheri, Manimajra and Sector 9 exceeded the permissible limits. The SPM levels at all the locations except Panjab University and Kajheri were lower than the previous year. SPM level at Sector 22, Kaimbwala and Sector 29 was within permissible limits while RSPM level at Panjab University, Kajheri, Manimajra and Sector 9 exceeded the permissible limits. It was found that SO2 and NO2 level at all the locations was within permissible limits.
SO2 level at Panjab University, Sector 9, Manimajra and Kajheri was higher than last year. NO2 levels at all the locations except Kaimbwala, Sector 29 and Manimajra was lower than last year. The analysis further revealed that sound levels at all the locations except Manimajra and Sector 9 was lower than last year.
