This story is from January 21, 2020

Patna’s air quality improves, now in moderate category

The air quality of Patna seems to be gradually improving with westerly winds at comparatively higher speed and gradual increase in temperature.
Patna’s air quality improves, now in moderate category
A student is seen wearing a pollution mask in Patna (File Photo)
PATNA: The air quality of Patna seems to be gradually improving with westerly winds at comparatively higher speed and gradual increase in temperature.
As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, the average air quality index (AQI) of Patna on Monday was 144, putting it in moderate category. Incidentally, the AQI of Patna was measured in the range of 350 to more than 400 during the peak winter period over the last two months.

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According to a senior official at Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB), the AQI level measured at Indira Gandhi Science Complex (planetarium) stood at 208, while it was 21 at Sri Krishna Memorial Hall, 121 at Rajdhani Vatika and 100 at BIT-Mesra in Patna monitoring stations.
Attributing climatic conditions as the main factor for the improvement of air quality in the city, BSPCB chairman Ashok Kumar Ghosh said: “Westerly winds blowing at comparatively higher speed over the last two days has led to improvement in city’s AQI to ‘moderate’ category. The western side of Patna is comparatively cleaner than the eastern side of the city.”
He added: “Earlier, the low wind speed was not letting dust particles and other pollutants to disburse. However, with the increase in the velocity, the air quality has improved.”

Ghosh said the city witnessed a rise in temperature after several days and contributed to improvement in the AQI. “If the weather continues to be like this, Patna’s air quality will become better,” he said.
Meanwhile, Patnaites had respite from the severe air quality in the city observed during the peak winter period. Boring Road resident Anuj Verma, who removed his pollution mask while commuting on the road over the last couple of months, said: “I get severe breathing problems whenever the AQI is high. However, I felt a little relief on Monday. The air quality is still bad but at least I am not getting much trouble in breathing.”
Meanwhile, the AQI at Muzaffarpur and Gaya were 184 and 99 respectively.
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