Kolkata is the fifth most polluted city in the world with an air quality index (AQI) of 161, according to a report published by private weather forecasting agency, Skymet.
Delhi has topped the list with an AQI of 527 and Mumbai has ranked ninth with an AQI of 153. The list, published on Friday, shows how alarming the condition of air quality in major metropolises of the country is.
Air pollution in Kolkata has been a major cause of concern for the past few years, especially from Kali Puja and Diwali every year, when the government has not been able to stop the bursting of crackers. The administration has been periodically — for the past few years — banned the burning of various products in the city to stop the release of harmful carbon monoxide and soot. However, despite the ban, there is serious lack of monitoring of the said order. Winter also makes the air quality worse for a number of other reasons. However, environment activists say that a lot more needs to be done in the city to stop further deterioration of the air quality so that it does not become as alarming as Delhi.
The figures released by Skymet also shows the wide gap in AQI between the most polluted city, Delhi and that of the second most polluted city, Lahore, which has an AQI of 234. This means that Delhi has an AQI which is more than double the AQI of Lahore. In the AQI system, a reading of 201-300 is considered “poor”, 301-400 is considered “very poor” and 401 and above is marked “hazardous”.
Skymet has said that the air quality of Delhi has been at such a dangerous level for the last nine days which is the longest duration of such a spell since AQI system of monitoring air quality began.
The air quality in the national capital has been under the scanner especially since Diwali this year when the air quality of the city deteriorated to dangerous levels as the city was covered by thick poisonous smog for days. It was said that the drop in air quality was brought about by stubble burning by farmers in adjoining states. The condition reached such a point that the government started distributing masks to people and announced closure of schools for a few days.
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