“It is caused by the plying of a large number of diesel-run commercial vehicles, use of coal-fired chulha (clay stove) by roadside eateries and garbage burning at dumping yards,” he said.
The air quality turned ‘poor’ (301-400) in different pieces of the city.
The air quality in many pieces of Kolkata decayed to ‘exceptionally poor’, while it turned ‘extreme’ in the northern pieces of the city on Friday, a West Bengal Pollution Control Board (PCB) official said.
The mechanized air checking station at Rabindra Bharati University (RBU) on B T Road in north Kolkata recorded the air quality list (AQI) of 408 PM 2.5 at 3 pm, which is ordered as ‘extreme’.
“The AQI recorded at RBU during the day is the worst this year. It was caused mostly due to wintry conditions with particulate matters hanging in the air and a large number of vehicles hitting the roads,” he said.
AQI somewhere in the range of 401 and 500 is assigned as ‘extreme’ and influences sound individuals and truly impacts those with existing illnesses, causing respiratory challenges, tree hugger S M Ghosh said.
“It is brought about by the handling of an enormous number of diesel-run business vehicles, utilization of coal-terminated chulha (dirt oven) by side of the road restaurants and trash consuming at unloading yards,” he said. The air quality turned ‘poor’ (301-400) in different pieces of the city.
It can exasperate asthma and other respiratory conditions.
Ballygunge recorded AQI of 309, Bidhan Nagar 320, Fort William 324, Victoria Memorial 314 and Jadavpur 303.
“Due to garbage burning and a higher number of vehicles on the roads, such situations may arise during the onset of winter.”
“The PCB is taking steps like banning coal-fired chulha and old commercial vehicles in the city. The board is also using water sprinkler vehicles to prevent the accumulation of dust in the air,” the authority added.
