'Other cities suffering more than Delhi due to pollution'

NEW DELHI: A study has pointed out that air pollution is neither Delhi-specific nor limited to winter alone, as at least four other cities are seen to be suffering more than Delhi, in terms of the number of days and severity of air pollution.

The annual concentration of major pollutant PM2.5 was more in Gurugram, Kanpur, Lucknow and Faridabad, the study by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC-India) said.

It said Patna and Agra had an annual concentration of pollutants similar to Delhi.

The study analysed records from 18 monitoring stations of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) from November 2016 to October 2017.

This includes the monitoring station in RK Puram, which is among the most polluted areas with an average PM2.5 concentration of 256 units, compared with an average 191 units in Delhi on Tuesday.

The study found that in the above mentioned period, Delhi suffered 146 days of bad air quality – 'very poor' PM2.5 levels on 120 days and 'severe plus' on 26 days. Faridabad (170), Kanpur (166), Gurugram (163) and Lucknow (143). Patna (128 units) and Agra (120) were close to the Delhi figure.