A struggle to breathe: India's most polluted cities

Oct 5, 2023 Trisha Mahajan

The basis of the pollution report

The report, by Climate Trends and Respirer Living Sciences, analyzed government PM2.5 data from October 1, 2022, to September 30, 2023, focusing on cities in the National Clean Air Programme, with a goal of reducing particulate matter by 40% by 2026. Image Source: Reuters

The clean havens

According to the analysis, Aizawl and Mizoram have India's cleanest air with a PM2.5 level of only 11.1 micrograms per cubic meter. Image Source: IANS

The seven most polluted cities

As per the reports, the top seven polluted cities namely are Delhi, Patna, Muzaffarpur, Faridabad, Noida, Ghaziabad, and Meerut which are all part of the Indo-Gangetic Plains.​ Image Source: IANS

Delhi at top

Delhi is the most polluted city with particulate matter (PM)2.5 concentration of 100.1 micrograms per cubic metre, which is three times the government's safe limit as per the report Image Source: ANI

Patna: 2nd most polluted city

Patna was said to the second most polluted city with an average PM2.5 concentration of 99.7 micrograms per cubic meter, saw a 24 percent deterioration in air quality compared to the previous year, as per the analysis. Image Source: PTI

3. Muzzafarpur, Bihar

With almost 9% air quality deterioration, Muzzafarpur, Bihar stands as third most polluted city with a PM2.5 concentration of 95.4 micrograms per cubic meter Image Source: IANSHINDI

4. Faridabad, Harayana

With a 2.5 PM concentration of 89 micrograms per cubic meter, Faridabad city in Haryana is the 4th most polluted. Image Source: PTI

5. Noida, Uttar Pradesh

Noida is the 5th most polluted state with PM 2.5 concentration of 79.1 micrograms per cubic meter. Image Source: IANS

6. Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh

With a PM2.5 concentration of 78.3 micrograms per cubic meter, Ghaziabad is India's 6th most polluted city. Image Source: PTI

7. Meerut Uttar Pradesh

Meerut is the 7th most polluted city as per the analysis with PM2.5 concentration of 76.9 micrograms per cubic meter. Image Source: IANS

8. Nalbari, Assam

Nalbari city in Assam is the 8th most polluted city of India with PM2.5 concentration of 100.1 micrograms per cubic meter. Image Source: IANS

9. Asansol, West Bengal

West Bengal's Asansol is the 9th most polluted city with PM2.5 concentration of 74 micrograms per cubic meter. Image Source: PTI

10. Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh

Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh is the 10th most pollluted city of India with PM2.5 concentration of 71.8 micrograms per cubic meter. Image Source: ANI

Slight positive: overall reduction in pollution

The analysts did note that PM2.5 concentration in Delhi, Faridabad, Noida, Ghaziabad and Meerut reduced by 4 percent, 12 percent, 12 percent, 25 percent and 11 percent, respectively, during the study period. Image Source: IANS

Need for reforms

Aarti Khosla, director of Climate Trends was quoted by PTI saying, ​"There is a need for a scientific approach to address air quality issues in a sustained manner through an airshed approach," Image Source: IANS

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