Hill stations also not safe? Dehradun records AQI near 300
What's the story
Dehradun, Uttarakhand's winter capital and a popular tourist destination, is also facing poor air quality. The city's Air Quality Index (AQI) slipped into the "poor" category on Thursday morning with an AQI of 274 at 6:00am. This comes after Wednesday's average AQI reached nearly 291, Professor Vijay Sridhar from Doon University's pollution monitoring center told PTI.
Pollution factors
Dehradun's AQI reaches 'poor' category
Professor Sridhar said there is some improvement during the day due to air movement, but nighttime levels remain high. The city's AQI crossed 300 at night. He further stated that, while the air quality in Dehradun is not as severe as in Delhi, it is not satisfactory. Environmental experts attribute this decline in air quality to increased vehicle numbers, waste burning, construction activities and seasonal forest fires in Uttarakhand.
Local worries
Locals express concern over rising pollution
With worsening air quality in Delhi-NCR, renowned tourist spots in Uttarakhand, such as Nainital, Bhimtal, and the Corbett Tiger Reserve, are seeing a steady increase in visitors. While some locals welcome the tourist influx, others are worried about rising pollution and traffic. "People moving away from Delhi should not end up increasing the AQI level here," a hotelier told PTI.
Ongoing crisis
Delhi's air quality remains 'very poor'
Meanwhile, Delhi continues to battle "very poor" air quality with an AQI of 328 on Wednesday morning. The AQI remained in the "very poor" category at 358 on Thursday morning, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), with some monitoring stations in the severe category and others nearing that category. Akshardham recorded an AQI of 416, in the "severe" category.