There is worrying news amid increasing air pollution in the state. The stain of pollution has been deepening on Bhiwadi, now Hanumangarh is also in its grip. Delhi’s Center for Science and Environment (CSE) has claimed in its winter report of 2023- 24 that Delhi NCR, Begusarai and Hanumangarh are among the 3 most polluted cities of India. The winter average in Hanumangarh was 171.6 µg/m³. Dholpur, Bhiwadi and Sriganganagar were also among the 20 most polluted cities this winter. Sirohi has the cleanest air in the state. 33 cities of Rajasthan were included in the report of 254 cities. • Swiss air quality monitoring organization IQair has considered India as the third most polluted country in its report. India has 42 of the world’s 50 most polluted cities, where the average level of PM 2.5 (fine particles of pollution) in 2023 was nearly ten times worse than WHO standards.
Highest increase in Kota-Bhiwadi compared to last year
PM 2.5 levels have increased in 39 out of 62 cities. There are 8 cities of Rajasthan among these. The highest increase of 42% was in Bhiwadi, Kota. It increased by 38% in Jaipur, 28% in Pali, 15% in Alwar. Sharanjit Kaur, associated with the organization, said, studied Delhi NCR, Haryana, Punjab, UP, Rajasthan.
It is necessary to bring plans of big cities to small cities also
CSE researcher Avikal Somvanshi said, Rajasthan is a dry state. The air is not clean due to industries. Throwing construction waste without adequate treatment also increases pollution. Such problems are also there in Chennai but there the sea absorbs the pollution and the air remains clean. In Ganganagar and Hanumangarh, pollution increases due to stubble in winter.