The System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) has announced that parts of Mumbai saw poor air quality index or AQI scores compared to January. It is said that the city had an average AQI of 175 this past Sunday, which then shot up to 281 while eventually coming down to 270 during the night.
SAFAR says that an AQI score between 201 - 300 is considered poor. However, forecasts suggest that the AQI score in some parts of the city could touch 283 in the coming days. The increase in pollution is not surprising given the number of vehicles that run in the city.
The authorities monitored pollution in places like Navi Mumbai (347 AQI) and Bandra-Kurla Complex (322 AQI), while Bhandup recorded the lowest AQI of them all at 148. Further, the surveys found that nearly five places have an AQI rating of “very poor”.
Also Read: Temperature As Well As Pollution Both On A Rise Over The Next Few Days
Project Director of SAFAR, Gufran Beig said, “The winds are very calm winds so local emissions are getting accumulated, resulting in higher pollution levels.” A thorough look at last year’s AQI figures reveals that the most highly polluted time of the month was January. But it seems like the pollutants are being discovered in the atmosphere well into February and March.
It’s worth noting that the rise in pollution is not new to the city. Last month, Bandra saw the highest AQI, officially breaching the 500 mark, which is considered hazardous for humans.
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