Poor air quality puts Odisha cities on India’s pollution watchlist

Bhubaneswar, Dec 6: Air pollution is no longer limited to the National Capital Region (NCR); it has become a pressing concern in Odisha as well, affecting cities like Bhubaneswar, the state capital.

On Friday, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi stood at 187, up from Thursday’s reading of 161, as per data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). In contrast, Odisha cities reported alarming AQI levels: Angul recorded a "very poor" AQI of 319, Bhubaneswar had a "poor" AQI of 267, while Cuttack and Byasanagar registered AQI levels of 202 and 205, respectively. Talcher’s AQI was relatively moderate at 154.

On Thursday, cities like Angul, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, and Balasore ranked among India’s 20 most polluted cities. Angul led the list with an AQI of 332, followed by Agartala (315) and Howrah (314). Earlier in the week, Bhubaneswar’s AQI reached 266, far worse than Delhi’s 178.

High levels of pollutants such as sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and dust particles have rendered the air hazardous, triggering respiratory illnesses, asthma, and cardiovascular problems. The Angul-Talcher industrial region is notably a global hotspot for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) emissions.

It’s critical to note that while AQI levels between 101-200 are deemed acceptable, levels above 400 are considered highly hazardous.