Varanasi’s toxic air quality is emblematic of wider malaise affecting entire Indo-Gangetic plain In 2017, CPCB called Varanasi the most polluted city in the country, while in 2018, WHO listed it as the third most polluted city in the world The Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi. Image: Oliver Laumann/CC BY-NC-ND 3.0
The city of Varanasi is among 43 critically polluted zones in the country. The extent of air pollution here is such that in 2015, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), said that the city did not have even a single good air quality day that year. And air pollution is only a part of the problem the quality of water here is terrible as well.
UPPCB report says two dairies found non-compliant to rules
Following a plea seeking action against unscientific disposal of waste in storm water drains by dairy owners in Ghaziabad, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the State authorities to take action and ensure compliance of rules.
A Bench headed by NGT chief Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said, “Let the statutory authorities concerned take further action of stopping the illegal activity and ensuring compliance of environmental norms, following due process.”
A report furnished by the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) said that two dairies were found non-compliant to rules and hence environmental compensation had been assessed.
Though Noida’s AQI wasn’t in the same category, it was not far behind, only marginally better at 394.
NOIDA: The air quality index (AQI) in Greater Noida and Ghaziabad on Wednesday dipped to the ‘severe’ levels, at 404 and 418, respectively.
Though Noida’s AQI wasn’t in the same category, it was not far behind, only marginally better at 394.
The AQI during this time in 2019 was recorded in the range of very poor to severe. The lockdown advantage has worn off. The AQI on December 9, 2019, was ‘very poor’ for all three cities with Noida at 372, Greater Noida 370 and Ghaziabad 391.
Three of the four monitoring stations in Ghaziabad recorded the AQI in ‘severe’ category. At Loni, the AQI was recorded at 437 followed by Indirapuram at 419 and 406 in Vasundhara. Sanjay Nagar which recorded an AQI of 386 was the only monitoring station which was under ‘very poor’ category.