NCR becoming gas chamber! All the 10 most polluted cities of India in October were from these cities.

New Delhi: Winter has not fully arrived yet but pollution has started wreaking havoc. Especially in Delhi-NCR, pollution is at a very dangerous level. According to a new report by the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), the 10 most polluted cities of India in October 2024 were from Delhi-NCR. Delhi remained the most polluted city. The report said that despite the implementation of GRAP, pollution did not reduce in the capital.

Neighboring states responsible for Delhi’s pollution

The report states that the level of PM2.5 in Delhi in October 2024 was 111 micrograms per cubic meter, which is also the same as in the October months of the last four years. CREA said that 60-70% of Delhi’s pollution is due to smoke coming from neighboring states, while stubble burning causes only 10% pollution. The Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) has stated in its report that the 10 most polluted cities of India in October 2024 were in Delhi-NCR. Delhi topped the list, where the average PM2.5 level was recorded at 111 micrograms per cubic metre. After this comes Ghaziabad (110) and Muzaffarnagar (103).

Pollution increased in UP-Haryana also

CREA studied pollution data from 263 cities. The report said that despite the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) being implemented from October 15, pollution levels remained very high in the cities of Delhi-NCR. The report also said that other big cities like Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bengaluru managed to keep PM2.5 levels below the national standard in October.

6 cities of UP included in the report

The report also states that for the first time this year, six cities of Uttar Pradesh were included in the list of top 10 most polluted cities. After this comes three cities of Haryana. CREA analyst Manoj Kumar said that according to the system for air quality management in Delhi, 60-70% of PM2.5 pollutants in Delhi in October came from neighboring states, while less than 10% of the pollution came from stubble burning. Had happened.

Record of last four years broken in Delhi

Compared to the October months of the last four years, Delhi has recorded the highest level of pollution in October this year. The monthly average PM2.5 level in October this year was 111 micrograms per cubic meter, while it was 104 in 2023, 105 in 2022, 75 in 2021 and 133 in 2020. Additionally, this year’s October month was 2.5 times more polluted than the average September month (43 micrograms per cubic metre).

In October 2024, the air quality will be ‘very poor’ for 14 days (121-250 micrograms per cubic metre), four days (91-120 micrograms per cubic metre) and ‘poor’ for eight days (61-90 micrograms per cubic metre). Remained in ‘medium’ category. The national standard (60 micrograms per cubic metre) was met only for 5 days.