UP Congress chief Misra flags issue of rising air pollution in state

     Lucknow, Nov 6 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Aradhana Misra Mona said on Friday that under the BJP government, the state's healthcare services are the worst in India, the education sector is on the verge of collapse, corruption and crime have peaked, and now the air has become toxic.

     She said children, the elderly, pregnant women, and those with pre-existing health conditions are bearing the brunt. "In a state where the healthcare system is already in a state of collapse, toxic air deals a double blow to the people. The BJP government is preoccupied with publicity and events, while the state's residents are struggling for every breath," Misra said.

     The Congress chief said six of the country's 10 most polluted cities are in Uttar Pradesh: Baraut (Baghpat), Khoda (Ghaziabad), Gajraula (Amroha), Ghaziabad, Noida (Gautam Buddha Nagar), and Meerut.

     Earlier in a post on X, Congress leader and former Union minister Jairam Ramesh, while flagging the issue of rising pollution, said, "For October 2026, the top three most polluted cities in India going by the monthly average PM 2.5 concentration were in Uttar Pradesh -- Baraut in Baghpat district, Khora in Ghaziabad district and Gajraula in Amroha district."

     The Congress leaders' remarks came after an independent research organisation -- Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) released a report titled 'India Monthly Ambient Air Quality Snapshot-October 2026' on Thursday.

     Misra said PM 2.5 refers to extremely fine particles suspended in the air, which are about 30 times thinner than a human hair. When inhaled, they travel directly into the lungs and bloodstream, serving as a major cause of asthma, as well as heart and lung diseases. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the concentration of these particles in the air should not exceed 15 micrograms per cubic metre.

     She said Baraut (in Baghpat district) ranks first in the country for the most polluted category.

     Throughout October, the average concentration of PM 2.5 in the air here was 87 micrograms per cubic metre -- nearly six times the WHO limit. On 24 out of 29 days, pollution levels were more than four times the WHO limit. On 10 days, they exceeded six times the limit; and on 5 days, they even surpassed eight times the limit.

     Khoda, in Ghaziabad district, ranked second in the country, with an average pollution level in October of 85 -- about six times the WHO limit. For 28 of the 31 days in the month -- roughly 90 per cent of the time --residents breathed air more than four times as toxic as the WHO limit. On 11 days, pollution levels exceeded six times the limit, and on 2 days, it surpassed eight times the limit.

     She said Gajraula in Amroha district secured the third spot, with the average pollution level for October ranging between four and six times the WHO limit. On 24 out of 31 days, pollution levels were more than four times the WHO limit. On 11 days, they exceeded six times the limit; on 2 days, they surpassed eight times the limit.

     Misra said the situation in Ghaziabad is the most alarming; average pollution in October ranged between four and six times the WHO limit. On 24 out of 31 days, pollution levels exceeded four times the WHO limit. For half the month, it was more than six times the limit, which is the highest among these six cities. Throughout the month, air pollution levels never fell below twice the WHO limit.

     Noida (Gautam Buddh Nagar), an emerging industrial and IT hub, ranked ninth in the country, with the average pollution level in October remaining between four and approximately six times the WHO limit. On 25 out of 31 days, pollution levels exceeded four times the WHO limit. On 7 days, it surpassed six times the limit, and on 2 days, it even exceeded eight times the limit. Like Ghaziabad, Noida had no day during the month when air pollution fell below twice the WHO limit.

     In Meerut, which ranked tenth in the country, average pollution in October was between four and about six times the WHO limit. On 23 out of 31 days, pollution levels exceeded four times the WHO limit. On 5 days, it surpassed six times the limit, and on 3 of those days, it even exceeded eight times the limit.

     Misra said this problem isn't limited to just a few cities. In 13 of the 27 cities in Uttar Pradesh covered by the report -- meaning nearly every second city in the state -- the average pollution level in October was four to six times higher than the WHO-prescribed limits. In another 11 cities, the levels were two to four times higher. No city in the state has air quality within the WHO's safe limits.

     The UP Congress chief demanded that the government take immediate cognisance of the report and initiate concrete, time-bound action to combat pollution. She assured the people that if the INDIA bloc forms the government in the state, they will ensure access to clean air, clean water, and clean food for every single citizen, the statement said.

     As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), an Air Quality Index between zero and 50 is classified as 'good', 51 and 100 as 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 as 'moderate', 201 and 300 as 'poor', 301 and 400 as 'very poor', and 401 and 500 as 'severe'.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)