Diwali smoke pushes Nashik’s air into ‘poor’ zone; AQI jumps from 150 to 223 overnight
Widespread bursting of firecrackers late into the night, coupled with heavy traffic and road dust, triggered the sharp spike in pollution levels, according to Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB). These factors worsened the city’s AQI,” an MPCB official said. “Moreover, the condition of the city roads is not so good, and the dust generated due to heavy vehicular traffic is a worry,” the official said. But the rising AQI of the city is a cause for concern,” said an environmentalist.
Officials attributed the relatively lower pollution levels to factories remaining shut since Saturday for the Diwali break. “Traffic load was heavy and firecrackers were burst to celebrate Diwali. Environmentalists warned that the city’s worsening air quality should not be ignored. “Nashik is known for its good climate and is a livable city.
There is also a need for public participation,” he said. There’s a need to check the burning of garbage in the open,” Roshan Kedar, an environmentalist, said. “We have seen people bursting firecrackers during Diwali without any limit. Action by the government alone is not enough. “There has been a huge rise in the vehicle population in the city. This is also a contributing factor to the city’s air pollution.