Ggm's air worsens post Diwali
Gurugram: Gurugram's air quality worsened to extremely poor levels post Diwali celebration. At around 1 am the particulate matters of 2.5 microns were recorded at the levels of 1000 micrograms per cubic meter. Doctors have advised that long exposure to the air bearing high levels of PM2.5 can cause lung impairment. On Diwali night the quality of air began to deteriorate as the citizens began the process of bursting the crackers. At 8 pm the PM2.5 was recorded at 224 which then increased to 306 at 9 pm by 11 pm it increased to 675 and 1 am it crossed over to 1000.
The situation however, improved in the morning but the thick haze continued to engulf all day long and the poisonous particulate matter that can make even the healthy person sick remained suspended in the city's air. According to the data by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the PM2.5 hovered between 350-380 micrograms per cubic meter which is six times the safe limit of 60. These levels were comparable to that of Anand Vihar that for long has been described as the gas chamber of Delhi. There was also a high concentration of other poisonous gases like nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, Ozone, and PM10.
Despite the emphasis on bringing of green crackers, high prices and less availability resulted in a large number of citizens cueing up to purchase the traditional crackers from the nearby retail stores which began to sell it. If the haze left after bursting of crackers was not enough to spoil the air quality there were also instances of the burning of garbage being reported from several parts of the city.
What however saved the day for residents of Gurugram was less traffic on the roads which prevented the pollution being caused due to traffic congestion. To improve the situation, the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) began sprinkling water on the major roads but that also did not improve the situation. "Old habits die hard and it will take a lot of effort to make citizens realise that bursting of crackers is now going to affect them adversely in the future" said Raman Sachdeva, a city resident.
