Mumbai & Bengaluru Air Quality Worsens While Delhi's Improves, Find Out Why

While the Delhi-NCR region is reputed to have the worst pollution levels in the country, the situation has slowly but surely been changing.

In fact, cities like Mumbai and Bengaluru - believed to be cities with better air quality, have seen PM 2.5 levels rise from 2019 to 2022, while Delhi has recorded improved air quality.

But it is important to note that cities like Delhi, Lucknow and Patna had started out with very high pollution levels.

PM 2.5 is a fine particulate matter (less than 2.5 microns in diameter) that can cause serious health problems since these particles, being less than 10 micrometres in diameter, can get deep into one's lungs, and some may even get into the bloodstream.

Mumbai, Bengaluru have deteriorating air quality, while Delhi improves

As per an analysis by Respirer Reports (RR), Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata saw PM 2.5 levels rise from 2019 to 2022.

RR is a division of Respirer Living Sciences based in Pune. Climate Trends, a research-based consulting and capacity-building initiative, circulated the report.

The concentration of PM 2.5 was studied for the peak pollution months (October to March) in six major state capitals - Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Lucknow and Patna.

Oct-Dec PM 2.5 levels in Mumbai, Delhi & Bengaluru

Jan-March PM 2.5 levels in Mumbai, Delhi & Bengaluru

In the January-March quarter, Mumbai saw a steady deterioration in air quality, with PM 2.5 levels consistently going up from 50.2 micrograms per cubic metre in 2019 to 80.6 micrograms per cubic metre in 2023, a jump of 60.5%.

During the October-December quarter in 2022, the average PM2.5 concentration went up compared to 2021 but was slightly less than the corresponding quarter in 2020.

In Mumbai, on Tuesday, Navi Mumbai recorded an AQI of 201, Malad 200, Mazgaon 170, Andheri 161 and Coloba 318, all in the poor to moderate categories.

Aarti Khosla, director of Climate Trends, said: "The RR analysis reflects that there has been improvement in the Indo-Gangetic Plain cities over the last few years... there is a need for a scientific approach to address air quality management in a sustained manner..."

Why is air quality deteriorating in cities like Mumbai and Bengaluru?

A major reason for the worsening air quality in Mumbai is dust emissions from the numerous redevelopment and construction projects which are operational across the city.

The rising pollution is also attributed to thermal power plants' expansion, pollution from automobiles, biomass burning and mismanagement of municipal solid wastes.

On the other hand, in Bengaluru, the highest contributor to PM 2.5 emission is vehicular emission.

BCCL

A Greenpeace India report on air pollution, which analysed data from September 2021 to September 2022 in Bengaluru, revealed that pollution levels were dangerously and persistently higher than the latest World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.

Further, Bengaluru's air quality was observed to have deteriorated in 2022 and, in fact, saw a 40% deterioration within a year, as reported by TOI.

Meanwhile, India is implementing the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) since 2019.

The NCAP targets to achieve 20% to 30% reduction in concentrations of PM10 (particulate matter of diameter between 10 and 2.5 micrometres) and PM 2.5 (particulate matter of diameter 2.5 micrometres or less) by the year 2024, keeping 2017 as the base year for comparison of concentration.

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