Smog or Fog: City beautiful turns toxic due to poor air quality
Smog has deteriorated the air quality in the city, dropping it to a level that can cause breathing discomfort to people like asthma, lungs and heart diseases. Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee on Wednesday night said the Air Quality Index (AQI) has plunged to a "very poor" level after measuring it in Sector 17, Imtech in Sector 39, and Kaimbwala. The respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) levels were three times more than the permissible limit of 100 microgram per cubic metre (mg/m3). The highest of 362 mg/m3 was recorded at Sector 17, 344 mg/m3 at Imtech and 336 mg/m3 at Kaimbwala. There are six AQI categories, good, satisfactory, moderately polluted, poor, very poor, and severe. P J S Dadwal, member secretary, Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee, held paddy straw burning in adjoining states as the main reason for the poor quality of the air. According to the meteorological department, the visibility in Chandigarh has also come down from average 1,500 metre to 1,000 metre, the department said. On Wednesday, the maximum temperature shot up to 27.4 degrees celsius and the minimum dropped to season's lowest at 13.2 degrees celsius. Air Quality Index Sector 17 | 362 | Very poor Imtech, Sector 39 | 344 | Very poor Kaimbwala | 336 | Very poor Permissible limit of RSPM is 100 microgram per cubic metre (mg/m3)
