
Six towns in Odisha recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeding 300 at 4 pm on January 7, categorizing the air quality as “very poor.” Balasore, surpassing even the National Capital, Delhi, topped the list with an AQI of 334. Other towns, such as Cuttack (320), Baripada (316), Bhubaneswar (311), Keonjhar (314), and Rairangpur (308), also experienced alarming AQI levels that afternoon.
In contrast, Angul reported an AQI value of 300, and Talcher recorded 251. Notably, Delhi’s AQI stood at 333 during the same period. The deteriorating air quality in Odisha is attributed to factors like heavy vehicular traffic, ongoing construction activities, and the impact of greenhouse gases. Environmentalists emphasize the adverse effects of rapid industrialization and deforestation on environmental pollution.
The State Pollution Control Board’s secretary recently attributed the situation to ongoing construction work. The AQI, ranging from 0 to 500, serves as a measure of air quality. Higher AQI values indicate increased air pollution and heightened health concerns. For instance, an AQI value of 50 or below signifies good air quality, while a value exceeding 300 indicates hazardous air quality.