PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Haldwani
The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Haldwani during this year’s Deepawali has been slightly higher than last year’s levels. According to information received from the regional office of the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board (UKPCB), the AQI in Haldwani on Deepawali was recorded at 194. In Nainital, the AQI was recorded at 111, which is an improvement compared to last year’s 119. The regional officer of UKPCB Anurag Negi stated that an AQI upto 200 is considered to be at a controlled level.
Further, the regional manager of the UKPCB, Sompal said that the air quality in Rudrapur fell into the “poor” category on Deepawali. Air quality monitoring conducted by the board noted that the AQI in Rudrapur reached a level of 243, falling in the “poor” category. Sompal said that an AQI of 243 indicates that the air can be harmful to individuals exposed to it for extended periods, particularly affecting those with lung and heart conditions, as well as children and the elderly.
He added that additionally, it was noted that noise pollution levels in various areas of Nainital and Haldwani were higher than last year. The maximum noise level recorded in Haldwani was 92.10 decibels, while in Nainital it was 82.40 decibels.
