Post Diwali, 'very poor' air quality in some parts of Kolkata

Kolkata: Despite the restrictions imposed by the Supreme Court on the bursting of firecrackers and repeated campaigns by environmentalists, green crusaders and health department officials, there was open defiance and the air quality in Kolkata plunged to 'very poor' category, from the night of Kali Puja on Tuesday till Thursday morning.

According to a report, the US Embassy data that monitors air quality, the area near the US Consulate in Kolkata was worse than its locations in New Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad. In South Kolkata, the areas of Jadavpur, Narendrapur and EM Bypass were worst hit whereas, in North Kolkata, the locations of Dum Dum, Kankurgachi and Belgachia were equally bad.

As per data available with the automatic monitoring station at Victoria Memorial recorded by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Particulate Matter (PM) — an important parameter of the Air Quality Index (AQI), was well in the 'very poor' category at 340 right from 6 pm and rose to 346 at 7 pm, 351 at 8 pm, 353 at 9 pm and remained around 350 the entire night.

On Thursday morning, the PM that registered at 368 at 6 am, shot up to 373 at noon and continued to remain so till 2 pm, falling only a few steps to 366 at 6 pm.

The PM registered at the automatic monitoring station at Rabindra Bharati University at BT Road in North Kolkata was well over 350 right from 7 pm and was 362 at 8 pm.

It may be mentioned that the Apex Court had set a deadline for 8-10 pm for the bursting of firecrackers.

A senior official of WBPCB added that law enforcement alone cannot curb pollution without people becoming aware.

As many as 93 people were arrested for bursting firecrackers in the city till midnight on Diwali.