Taj Mahal shrouded in haze as pollution grips north India. (Photo: TOI/Punit Lal)
the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported the city’s average AQI at 190, placing it in the ‘moderate’ category While Agra Smart City’s monitoring sensors recorded the Air Quality Index (AQI) crossing 400 at two locations on Monday morning. Sensors installed at 30 locations across the district recorded AQI levels above 400 at Rajeshwar Temple and Rajpur Chungi, indicating ‘severe’ air pollution, according to Agra Smart City data. The AQI remained above 350 at Chipitola Chauraha, Meera Hussaini Chauraha, Namner Chauraha and Naripura. At least 10 other locations recorded AQI levels between 300 and 350 at 5:30 am on Monday, indicating ‘very poor’ air quality. In contrast, the CPCB’s daily bulletin placed Agra’s average AQI at 190, in the ‘moderate’ category. Under the CPCB’s classification, an AQI of 0-50 is considered ‘good’, 51-100 ‘satisfactory’, 101-200 ‘moderate’, 201-300 ‘poor’, 301-400 ‘very poor’ and 401-500 ‘severe’. He said the city’s AQI typically ranged between 350 and 495 from Nov to Jan before 2023, but had dropped considerably over the past two years.
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Amit Mishra, regional officer of the UP Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) in Agra, said CPCB monitoring stations were intended to provide a broader assessment of the city’s air quality. Several natural factors also come into play while recording AQI,” he said. Agra-based doctor Sharad Gupta said exposure to air pollution could cause chronic health problems, especially among children whose vital organs were still developing. Children are especially vulnerable as they are in their growing years, with their vital organs still developing,” he said. “People can still feel the pollution in the air,” he said.
Agra: Air quality in Agra deteriorated following Diwali , with several localities recording high pollution levels amid a rise in smog across the city. Its monitoring station at Sanjay Palace, however, recorded air quality in the ‘poor’ category. “The methodology of calculating the AQI is the same across the country, be it Agra or Ahmedabad. It is decided by the Union environment ministry. As far as Smart City data is concerned, these sensors were installed to analyse localised impacts, such as pollution levels at a particular intersection. Meanwhile, residents have raised concerns over worsening air quality following Diwali and the health risks associated with prolonged exposure to polluted air. Doctors have warned that sustained exposure to polluted air can have long-term health consequences, with children particularly vulnerable. “Exposure to pollution can have long-term and chronic effects. Gupta also questioned the significant improvement reflected in Agra’s historical pollution readings over the past two years. Download the TOI App.