Air in Sundernagar, Baddi and Manali was bad enough for causing breathing discomfort
Shimla: On the eve of the Diwali festival, most cities in the Himachal Pradesh have witnessed a rapid spike in the pollution levels. As per data provided by the Pollution Control Board, Air Quality Index in Paonta Sahib in Sirmour district was highest with 222, which was bad enough for causing breathing discomfort to people on prolonged exposure.
In Dharamshala, where the state government is hosting a Global Investor Meet in next week, air quality was also recorded deteriorated as the city was found as second highest polluted with 173 AQI, which comes under Moderate category but bad enough for causing breathing discomfort for patients affected with lung, heart disease and children.
Parwanoo AQI was 162, while major industrial area Baddi and Nalagarh has shown commendable improvement in air quality. AQI recorded 107 in Baddi against 199 in the year of 2018, while in Nalagarh it was 92 and in previous year AQI was recorded at 181.
Sundernagar in Mandi district has also recorded 150 AQI, little higher than the previous year, and air quality in Manali was also bad enough to make you ill. Manali recorded AQI 114, in 2018 air quality index was 172.
Capital town Shimla also fared badly in air quality index as on the eve of Diwali AQI was recorded 90, which was 76 in 2018. On the ridge maidan AQI was 68. In Shimla old bus stand was the most polluted area.
As per the data Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) increased in 6 major cities viz. Shimla, Parwanoo, Dharamshala, Damtal, Paonta and Kala Amb in Sirmour district. Whereas RSPM was decreased in Una, Sundernagar, Baddi, Nalagarh and Manali.
Dr. Manoj Chauhan, Pr. Scientific Officer, confides that the pollution rises not only from burning firecrackers but with the vehicular movements as well. He said that cities like Shimla and Manali witnessed major vehicular traffic and it affected the air quality of the cities.
Air Quality Index of Himachal recorded by the HP Pollution Control Board
| RSPM | AQI | ||||
| Town | Monitoring Location | 2018 | 2019 | 2018 | 2019 |
| Shimla | Old Bus Stand | 76 | 90.3 | 76 | 90 |
| Ridge Maidan | 67.8 | 68 | |||
| Parwanoo | Parwanoo Sec. IV | 171 | 191.3 | 147 | 161 |
| Dharamshala | Dari,Dharamshala | 112 | 113.7 | 108 | 173 |
| Damtal | Ram Gopal Mandir | 74 | 77.7 | 74 | 78 |
| Paonta | Paonta Sahib | 104.1 | 156.3 | 103 | 222 |
| Kala Amb | Trilokpur, Kala Amb | 86.9 | 96.2 | 87 | 99 |
| Una | Una | 102.6 | 78.8 | 102 | 79 |
| Sundernagar | Office Building | 144 | 112.7 | 129 | 150 |
| Baddi | Housing Board | 248 | 110 | 199 | 107 |
| Nalagarh | MC Nalagarh | 221 | 92 | 181 | 92 |
| Manali | Nehru Park Manali | 207.5 | 120.8 | 172 | 114 |
Air Quality Index
| 0-50 | Good | 201-300 | Poor | |
| 51-100 | Satisfactory | 301-400 | Very Poor | |
| 101-200 | Moderate | 401-500 | Severe |
