Clarification regarding High Level of Air Pollution in Guwahati City
Rongili Barta- There has been a misleading report in regards to Air Quality of Guwahati city. As per the report, Guwahati has been listed as 2nd most polluted city in Central and South Asia by IQAir, a Swiss based Air Quality Technology organization, reportedly based on average PM2.5 concentration in the year 2023. The agency reported PM2.5 concentration in Guwahati for the year 2023 as high as 105.4µg/m³, which is reportedly the 2nd highest concentration for the regional cities in Central and South Asian countries. In the same IQAir report the average PM2.5 concentration in Delhi has been reported as 92.7µg/m³ and as such the reported value of PM2.5 in Guwahati (105.4 µg/m³) is more than that of Delhi. These misleading reports are causing panic among the people in the State. The PCBA hereby clarifies that there is no need to panic as the Air Pollution level (PM2.5 concentration) in Guwahati is absolutely under control than the reported level by IQAir. It is for the information of all concerned that Pollution Control Board, Assam monitors the ambient air quality in Guwahati 24×7 for 365 days through sophisticated Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) at four locations, viz., PCBA H.Q. at Bamunimaidam; Cotton University; Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport and IIT-Guwahati. Data from these stations are being continuously monitored. The quality data generated from these CAAQMS are recorded by Central Pollution Control Board, MoEF&CC, Govt. of India and one can access these data online at https://airquality.cpcb.gov.in/AQI_India/. The technology used in these CAAQMS is approved by USEPA and Govt. of India.
The record of air quality data of Guwahati generated from these CAAQMS reflects average monthly PM2.5 concentration at 52.8 µg/m³ in 2023 with maximum concentration (98.3 µg/m³) and minimum concentration (22.62 µg/m³) recorded in July, 2023 and January, 2023 respectively. From the record the average PM2.5 concentration in the year 2022 in Guwahati city was 52.61 µg/m³. These data contradicts the report of IQAir, whose data source is not known. As per the IQAir report the average PM2.5 concentration in Guwahati for the year 2023 has been reported as 105.4 µg/m³, which is almost reported at 200% more than the actual recorded value by Govt. of India through CPCB and State Boards.
Under National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), the Govt. of Assam has been implementing various action plans to improve the Ambient Air Quality in Guwahati besides four (4) other towns of Assam. With the implementation of the NCAP action plan by various stake holding departments, viz., Public Works Departments, Department of Transport, PCBA, GMC, etc., it is made possible to maintain Air quality in the city in terms of average PM2.5 concentration in the year 2023 (52.8 µg/m³) which is almost same level in the year 2022 (52.61 µg/m³).
The Govt. of Assam and the Union Government have been informed by PCBA about the misleading data published by IQAir in its report “2023 World Air Quality Report-Region & City PM2.5 Ranking”. It may also be mentioned here that very poor quality (as portrayed by the report and highlighted by the print and electronic media) air would have far-reaching manifestation in normal life, activities of citizen, health of citizens, etc, which have not been observed anywhere in Guwahati. PCBA request Guwahati citizen to carry out their normal activities without any fear and dismiss such unscientific and absurd reports.