Nagpur’s air quality deteriorated sharply on Thursday as PM2.5 levels exceeded PM10 readings at all four monitoring stations, reaching 190 µg/m³ at GPO and prompting concern over pollution in areas that include substantial green cover.
The highest PM2.5 concentration was recorded at GPO, followed by 186 µg/m³ at Ram Nagar, 179 µg/m³ at Mahal and 142 µg/m³ at Ambazari, according to monitoring data reported by the Times of India. Ram Nagar, Ambazari and Mahal have relatively thick green cover, raising concern about pollution levels in other parts of the city as well.
Nagpur’s overall Air Quality Index rose to 125 on Thursday from 114 on Wednesday. The rise in fine particulate pollution is significant because PM2.5 particles are 2.5 micrometres or smaller and can penetrate deep into the lungs. Prolonged exposure can aggravate respiratory and cardiovascular problems, while levels above 100 µg/m³ can cause breathing difficulties for people with asthma and respiratory distress.
PM10 has traditionally been the more prominent pollutant in Nagpur, making the sudden rise in PM2.5 a particular concern. Maharashtra Pollution Control Board regional officer Hema Deshpande expressed surprise at the increase and said an assessment would be required to determine its causes.
A former CSIR-Neeri scientist who has worked on air-pollution control projects said firecrackers during recent immersion processions and other celebrations, along with increased vehicular congestion, were likely contributors. Environmentalist Suresh Chopne attributed the deterioration to the sharp increase in vehicles on the roads and the burning of municipal waste, which he said was contributing to higher PM2.5 levels.
Leena Buddhe, who works on pollution control from power plants, described the deterioration before peak winter as a “massive wake-up call”. She said garbage burning was creating toxic haze in the mornings and that early festive crackers were worsening the effect of falling temperatures. Buddhe called for immediate dust-control measures, waste-lifting drives and functional electrostatic precipitators at thermal power plants around the city.
The reported readings also raise questions about enforcement at street level. A government official told the Times of India that she had reported firecracker bursting in Laxmi Nagar over the previous two days to the police and Nagpur Municipal Corporation, but no action had been taken. NMC public health engineering officials did not respond to the newspaper’s calls.
The immediate next step identified by the MPCB is an assessment to determine the reasons behind the sharp PM2.5 increase. Further action will depend on the findings of that assessment and responses from the civic and pollution-control authorities.
