Air quality: Faridabad fares worse than neighbouring Gurugram

Gurugram: Among all cities in the National Capital Region, Faridabad leads the dubious list of poorest air quality, and the city continued this trend on Tuesday as well. However, neighbouring Gurugram saw a huge dip in air pollution, as low levels of PM2.5 and PM10 pollutants were recorded.

While scientists are unable to explain this contrasting situation in the two Haryana districts, they did highlight many factors responsible for Faridabad's poor air.

Numerous small-scale industries and ancillary units popping up in and around Faridabad, which use poor quality of diesel and furnace oil, have contributed heavily to the constantly deteriorating air quality. Moreover, high-density vehicular traffic and dust generated from construction activities are also the usual culprits, experts have said.

Naresh Bhadana, a city resident, claims that the industrial units – many of which are illegal and hazardous – have no pollution control devices to regulate smoke billowing from chimneys.

"These units are mostly involved in plastic moulding and metal works. Even though coal-based chimneys are not allowed within the city because of pollution they cause, most of these units use coal chimneys to extracting metals like iron, aluminium and nickel," Bhadana said.

He added, "These units also do not have an effective policy of discharging their waste, which is either openly burnt or mixed with the municipal waste and ends up in landfills."

When asked about the factors responsible for hazardous air quality levels in Faridabad, a senior official from Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) said, "We are thinking of carrying out a study in various areas, including Faridabad, to understand what factors are responsible for the poor air quality levels in specific regions."

Meanwhile, in Gurugram even as a thick layer of smog enveloped the city early Tuesday morning, the situation began to improve by 9.00 am.

PM2.5 levels hovered in the range of 290-350 microgram per cubic metre, while that of PM10 was registered between 400-450. Though both pollutants still have higher than safe limits concentration, it has reduced significantly than what it used to be.