Meerut Leads the Way: India’s Most Polluted City in Latest Air Quality Rankings
Meerut, the vibrant city of Uttar Pradesh, has taken the unfortunate lead in the latest air quality rankings. The Central Pollution Control Board’s daily bulletin reveals that Meerut’s air quality index (AQI) reached a concerning 382, categorizing it as “very poor.” The data, based on a 24-hour average from 229 Indian cities as of 4 pm on October 23, paints a troubling picture.
Following closely behind, Greater Noida registered an AQI of 299, landing in the “poor” category. Meanwhile, Bharatpur claimed the third spot with an AQI of 280, indicating severe air pollution.
The air quality index is divided into six categories, ranging from “Good” to “Severe.” The AQI scale helps to assess the level of air pollution’s impact on health. For context, an AQI between 0 and 50 is considered “Good,” while 301 to 400 falls into the “very poor” range.
The Delhi-NCR region, including the national capital itself, faced significant pollution challenges, with most cities falling into the “poor” category. Delhi’s AQI stood at 263, closely followed by Bahadurgarh at 262 and Faridabad at 256. Manesar, a neighboring city to Gurugram, also ranked in the top 10 with an AQI of 248. Noida and Ghaziabad reported AQIs of 229 and 220, respectively.
In contrast, Mumbai exhibited better air quality with an AQI of 177, surpassing the Delhi-NCR region. Even Gurugram’s AQI outperformed its nearby cities, with a reading of 182.
Hope is on the horizon, as Delhi’s AQI is expected to improve after October 26, thanks to the implementation of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). The India Meteorological Department (IMD) scientist VK Soni has expressed optimism that the measures taken under GRAP 2 will yield positive results.
GRAP is a comprehensive set of guidelines and measures aimed at combatting air pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR), which encompasses Delhi and its neighboring areas.
