The impact of the air pollution in the city is already evident in the health problems that are being faced by residents especially children and the elderly. Often, visitors are also seen carrying back ailments like cough and cold. "With pollution particulates hanging in the air and a shift in seasons, people are now more vulnerable to contract respiratory diseases as well as problems such as breathing discomfort and complications for those with existing heart or lung disorders," points out Goswami.

Ironically, Haridwar had in the 1960s won the first prize for being the cleanest city in Uttar Pradesh and was awarded a Shiv murti (idol) which has been installed near the railway station. However, not many are aware of its significance as the city has lost the clean serene environment that drew people towards it. According to PC Joshi, professor in the environmental science department of Gurukul Kangri University who has been monitoring air pollution in Haridwar since 2002, rise in vehicular traffic and depletion of green belt has considerably affected air pollution levels in the city. "While the concentration of SO2 (sulphur dioxide) and NOx (nitrogen oxide) in the city's air is within permissible limits, suspended particulate matter (SPM) and respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) have crossed permissible limits, which is a cause of concern," he says.

Pilgrims visiting Haridwar almost throughout the year have also had a considerable effect on its environment. Estimates are that almost 10-15 lakh pilgrims visit the city every month from across the country. To cater to their needs, hundreds of hotels, restaurants and dharamshalas have opened up and their number keeps on increasing year after year. All this has not only made the city much more congested but also resulted in large amounts of garbage being generated which often spills out into the streets and is burnt by those who are unmindful of its consequences. "There is no doubt that the pollution caused by factories, vehicles and litter is increasing at an alarming rate in the city. While it is difficult to shut down factories and reduce the number of vehicles, people should at least refrain from burning garbage and dry leaves which is a major source of air pollution. If they don't do it themselves, the administration must stop them by enforcing strict rules and penalties. Only then can the problem be checked and Haridwar's air be saved from being further degraded," says Goswami.