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Air quality declines as Hyderabad unlocks

The quality of air has dipped across Hyderabad, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) rising at all locations where it has been monitored

By Siddharth Rao

Updated On - 7 July 2021, 11:46 PM

Air quality declines as Hyderabad unlocks — (file photo)

Hyderabad: As the lockdown was lifted on June 19, opening up the streets for traffic, pollution sources that were under a lock too opened up, and according to reports from the Telangana State Pollution Control Board (TSPCB), have affected the air quality in the city.

The quality of air has dipped across Hyderabad, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) rising at all locations where it has been monitored. The higher the AQI level, the worse happens to be the air quality.

For instance, an AQI of 58 was measured at the National Air Quality Monitoring Program (NAMP) station at Balanagar on June 18 and the same place recorded an AQI of 102 on June 28 and 127 on July 5, marking an increase of 69 points.

A similar pattern has been observed at other NAMP stations — Uppal, Paradise, Charminar, Jeedimetla and Kukatpally, as all these places recorded a ‘Good’ AQI (less than 50) in June and are now in the ‘Satisfactory’ (51-100) and ‘Moderate’ (101-200) ranges.

All the NAMP stations in the city have shown a decline in the air quality when compared to a day before the end of lockdown to July 5, barring the one at Jubilee Hills, which recorded an improvement in the AQI.

There has also been a drastic increase in the PM10 (Particulate Matter greater than 10 micrometres in diametre) levels in the city in the same period. The NAMP stations recorded an increase of 40-80 points in the PM10 levels in the city, pointing towards an increase in the microscopic particles in the air. This also contributes to a decline in air quality.

Air quality