From very poor, Lucknow air now severely harmful

LUCKNOW : Smog conditions intensified as air pollution in the state capital rose to more than seven times above safe limits, close to alarming levels in Delhi, on Wednesday.

For the third time in November, Lucknow’s air turned toxic, the analysis of air quality index (AQI) by Central Pollution Control Board(CPCB) for November showed. Last year, Lucknow was the most polluted city in the country on November 8. On the same day this year too, thick smog engulfed the city , taking pollution level to severe.

According to AQI data re leased by CPCB for 40 cities, Lucknow’s air was under `severe’ category with the concentration of PM2.5–the finest and most hazardous particulate matter–at 430 micrograms per cubic meter of air against the permissible limit of 60 micrograms per cubic meter of air.
The `severe’ category affects even healthy people and seriously impacts those with existing diseases. Pollution level was up 65 micrograms from Tuesday , when air quality was `very poor’.

According to live readings of air quality from monitoring stations of CPCB in Lalbagh, Talkatora, and Aliganj, toxic substances in the atmosphere kept rising all day .PM2.5 was a prominent pollutant at all three locations.

According to Indian Institute of Toxicology Research director Alok Dhawan, pollution levels were high throughout the day with maximum level recorded in the afternoon when AQI crossed 400.

 “Air has limited pollutioncarrying capacity . We live in air columns congested with excess of pollution with construction activities, garbage burning and vehicular pollution going on together in all parts of the city ,” said Dhawan.

With the city facing severe pollution levels, burning activities should be heavily penalized by the government, he said. The situation, he said, will worsen otherwise.

According to the director of the environment monitoring station at Lucknow University Prof Dhruv Singh, smog engulfed the city due to low wind speed.