Kolkata witnessed good air quality index during Diwali, says WBPCB

Kolkata: The weather god played a role in ensuring the cleanest Diwali in recent times in Kolkata and adjoining districts as the cyclone Sitrang passed by during the festivities, in addition to awareness programmes and vigilance, the West Bengal Pollution Control Board (PCB) said.

During the 2022 Diwali, Kolkata witnessed 'Good' AQI as compared to 'Moderate' or 'Very Poor' for metro cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Chennai, the WBPCB said in a statement on Thursday.

It said that improved air quality data and reduced noise level figures show that Kolkata in particular and West Bengal as a whole has witnessed the cleanest Diwali in recent times.

"Barring violations reported from few pockets of the state, persistent awareness campaigns, vigilance from the WBPCB's Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) coupled with some influence of the passing Cyclone Sitrang have contributed to such improvement in celebrating the cleanest of Diwali in 2022," the state PCB said.

While in Kolkata, the highest Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 49 on Diwali, it was 330 in Delhi, 130 in Mumbai, 158 in Bengaluru and 261 in Chennai, the WBPCB said.

While the cyclone had its effect in Kolkata, North 24-Parganas and South 24-Parganas, West Bengal has witnessed "Good" AQI across every district, it said. Sitrang passed by the West Bengal coast before making landfall in neighbouring Bangladesh, but did bring rain and strong winds in the coastal districts of North and South 24-Parganas and Kolkata, dampening Diwali festivities on October 24.

The WBPCB said awareness drives through various platforms like radio, meetings, social media and newspapers had a collective effect towards reduced sale and bursting of illegal firecrackers, which in turn ensured better ambient air quality.

The police arrested 270 persons for illegal firecracker bursting or violating other pollution norms during Diwali festivities till October 27 across the state, with Kolkata topping the list at 92, followed by 50 in Siliguri and 25 in Purulia, it said. A total of 14,892 kg of illegal firecrackers were seized, with Kolkata topping the list at 9,695 kg, it said.

Seizure of firecrackers in the state went up two times this year compared to 2019, while arrests have increased 18 times, the pollution control board said.

With agency inputs