Kolkata residents breathed a little easier on Friday as the city's air quality registered a slight improvement, offering a brief respite from the severe pollution levels witnessed on New Year's Day. However, the overall air quality across all monitoring stations stubbornly remained in the 'poor' category, indicating that the crisis is far from over.
Marginal Gains in Key Locations
Data from the city's air quality monitoring network revealed a gradual decline in the Air Quality Index (AQI) at most stations between the morning and evening hours. Two key locations, Jadavpur and Salt Lake, showed signs of marginal recovery, improving from the 'very poor' to the 'poor' category during the course of the day.
A senior official from the Pollution Control Board (PCB) acknowledged the intensified mitigation measures to curb dust and particulate matter but cautioned that the improvement was both marginal and fragile. The official's statement underscores the precarious nature of the city's air quality situation.
Station-Wise AQI Trends Across the City
The monitoring data painted a detailed picture of the day's fluctuations. At Ballygunge, AQI readings showed a slow but steady reduction, falling from 221 at 6 am to 213 by 6 pm. Fort William recorded a more noticeable improvement, with AQI levels dropping from 203 in the early morning to 179 by evening.
Salt Lake, one of the worst-affected areas earlier in the week, saw its AQI dip from 303 at 6 am to 278 by 6 pm. A similar and even sharper trend was observed at Jadavpur, where AQI levels reduced dramatically from 304 in the morning to 176 in the evening.
Other parts of the city also registered modest gains:
- Rabindra Bharati University (RBU) recorded AQI levels dropping from 239 at 6 am to 198 by evening.
- Rabindra Sarobar saw a decline from 198 to 176 over the same period.
The Victoria Memorial area, however, continued to remain under significant stress, with AQI levels hovering in the upper 'poor' range, reducing only slightly from 290 in the morning to 270 by evening.
Experts Urge Continued Caution
Environmental and health experts have cautioned citizens against complacency. Despite the slight numerical relief, they emphasize that air quality remains a serious public health concern. Prolonged exposure to air classified as 'poor' can still cause significant respiratory discomfort and aggravate existing conditions.
The risk is particularly high for vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing health conditions like asthma or heart disease. The marginal dip in AQI is a temporary reprieve and not an indication that the underlying pollution problem has been solved.
