Adityanath dismisses post-Diwali pollution concerns AQI still high in parts of UP

     Lucknow, Nov 11 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday dismissed concerns over post-Diwali pollution, saying it would subside, even as several locations continued to record high air quality index (AQI) readings, according to the Central Pollution Control Board.

     Addressing a government event in Lucknow, Adityanath wondered why those raising concerns over pollution following Diwali were silent about people who polluted the system through corruption.

     "Some people are saying that pollution has increased because of Diwali. So what if it has increased? It will subside as well. Why are you worried?" he said, defending the celebrations and the bursting of firecrackers.

     "Those who have polluted the entire system through their corrupt deeds are not questioned. But if the public bursts firecrackers and celebrates with fireworks for one day, suddenly pollution becomes an issue," he added.

     The chief minister said people did the right thing by celebrating Diwali with fireworks. "We had said that we would not impose any restrictions. Let people burst firecrackers and celebrate."

     The CPCB's 24-hour average readings released at 4 pm on Wednesday showed that Khurja recorded the highest AQI of 299 in Uttar Pradesh, followed by Ghaziabad (297), Noida (291), Khoda (287), Baghpat (285), Bulandshahr (273), Meerut (270) and Modinagar (265) -- all in western UP.

     Other locations reporting relatively high pollution levels were Anpara (271), Fatehpur Sikri (253), Greater Noida (257), Hapur (216), and Muzaffarnagar (210).

     Among the major cities, Kanpur recorded an AQI of 190, Gorakhpur 191, Agra 175, Lucknow 147 and Varanasi 134.

     Bareilly recorded 96, while Jhansi, at 67, had the lowest reading.

     The real-time data for places in Noida and Ghaziabad on Wednesday evening showed AQI levels in the "very poor" category.

     The readings indicate an improvement in pollution on the immediate post-Diwali period, particularly in several western UP locations, where it spiked beyond 400, into the "severe" category on November 8.

     The morning after, Noida recorded an AQI of 332, Ghaziabad 324, Baghpat 305 and Bulandshahr 303. Khurja had registered 331, while Khoda recorded 380.

     Some localities in Ghaziabad, Meerut and Saharanpur reported readings in the 'severe' category, with New Tehsil Loni in Ghaziabad recording 459 and Gangangar in Meerut registering 401.

     The CPCB classifies AQI readings of 301-400 as 'very poor' and 401-500 as 'severe'.

     An AQI in the very poor category can cause respiratory illness on prolonged exposure, while severe air quality can affect even healthy people and seriously impact those with existing diseases.

     A senior doctor at Lucknow's King George's Medical University told PTI that while air quality levels generally deteriorate around this time of the year and Diwali pollution is a contributing factor, it would be incorrect to attribute the problem entirely to firecrackers.

     "If it were the only big factor, AQI levels would improve immediately after and stay so," the doctor said.

     He cited the onset of winter, which contributes to smog formation, stubble burning, indiscriminate concretisation, construction activities and vehicular emissions as other significant factors affecting air quality.

     Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) regional director Yogendra Kumar said pollution levels improved considerably since Diwali night.

     "The AQI levels that were alarmingly high around Diwali have now improved big time since then," he told PTI.

     He said air quality was regularly monitored in Saharanpur, and the district's natural greenery generally helped keep its AQI between 101 and 200.

     BJP MP from Unnao, Sakshi Maharaj, also questioned the tendency to attribute pollution primarily to Diwali celebrations.

     "I fail to understand how Diwali celebrations lead to and are considered solely responsible for pollution? Such simplistic solutions are strange," he told reporters.

     Earlier, local administrations and health authorities in parts of western UP stepped up precautionary measures after Diwali.

     In Baghpat, the district hospital reserved 12 beds and community health centres six beds each in view of the deteriorating air quality, while healthcare workers were asked not to go on leave, according to officials.

     In Ghaziabad, the municipal corporation intensified mechanical road sweeping, water sprinkling and dust-control operations at pollution hotspots.

     Experts said that while the improvement in AQI readings since the immediate post-Diwali spike is encouraging, addressing the problem requires sustained measures targeting multiple sources of pollution rather than focusing on cracker emissions alone.

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