Greater Noida second most polluted city in India

Experts attributed local factors, including construction works, aside from biomass burning in northern states, behind the rise in pollution levels

Greater Noida became the second most polluted city in the country with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 299 on Monday afternoon, an improvement over the previous day’s AQI of 354. Noida, too, entered the “orange” zone on Monday with an AQI of 299, from Sunday’s “red” category with an AQI of 304.

According to the daily bulletin released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the major pollutant in Greater Noida on Monday was PM2.5. (Sunil Ghosh/HT Photo)

Environmentalists and experts attributed local factors, including construction works, aside from biomass burning in northern states such as Haryana and Punjab, behind the rise in pollution levels in Greater Noida.

According to the daily bulletin released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the major pollutant in Greater Noida on Monday was PM2.5.

“Ongoing construction works in Greater Noida, especially around Knowledge Park 5 where the air pollution monitoring station is located, are raising air pollution levels in the city. Though basic guidelines of covering the construction sites with green nets, water sprinkling, etc, are being followed, these need to be practised more often,” said environmentalist Vikrant Tongad.

The regional pollution board has been taking up measures to curb air pollution in Noida and Greater Noida and launching enforcement activities to check violation of guidelines. On Sunday, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (Grap) in Delhi and the National Capital Region, when the air quality touched “very poor.”

Deo K Gupta, regional officer of the UPPCL in Greater Noida, said, “Erection of a high-tension line due which pits were dug resulted in the formation of mud heaps, which are yet to be lifted. Due to vehicular movement in the area, dust particles are dispersed in the air leading to deterioration in AQI. We have written a letter to the Greater Noida authority to address the situation.”