International Study Ranks Lucknow Among World's Most Polluted Cities
A recent international study conducted by the Swiss air quality agency IQAir has revealed high air pollution levels in Lucknow, leaving residents and experts perplexed. The report, which analyzed air quality across cities and towns in 143 countries, ranked Lucknow as the 58th most polluted place globally in 2025. Within India, the city stands at 34th out of 259 locations included in the study.
Discrepancies in Air Quality Data Sources
Many residents have pointed out that mobile phone applications frequently show air pollution levels as "poor" or "severe," particularly during the winter months. However, data released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) often indicates Lucknow's Air Quality Index (AQI) as satisfactory or moderately polluted. This inconsistency has raised questions about the accuracy and representation of pollution monitoring in the city.
Strict WHO Standards vs. CPCB Limits
Experts explain that the high pollution levels in the international study are due to the use of strict measures prescribed by the World Health Organization (WHO). The ranking is based on Lucknow's annual average PM2.5 level of 54.2 µg/m³ (micrograms per cubic metre), which is nearly 10 times higher than the WHO's safe annual average limit of 5 µg/m³. In contrast, the CPCB of India prescribes a safe annual average limit of 40 µg/m³, which is eight times more lenient than the WHO standard.
Location of Monitoring Stations Under Scrutiny
A reality check by TOI found that three out of six air pollution monitoring stations providing data to the CPCB are installed in areas with comparatively low pollution levels: Kukrail forest and the Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU) campus on Rae Bareli Road. The other three stations are located in the Tal Katora industrial area, the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) at Lalbagh, and the UP Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) campus in Vibhuti Khand, Gomti Nagar.
At these latter sites, air pollution levels are somewhat higher, but the LMC has deployed vehicles to sprinkle water regularly at Tal Katora and Lalbagh to prevent dust particles from spreading. Some experts caution that mobile AQI readings, often based on satellite data or voluntary monitoring, should not be treated as the sole indicator of pollution exposure.
Calls for Improved Monitoring Practices
According to CPCB guidelines, air pollution monitoring devices should be installed in locations that accurately represent the air quality of a specific area, covering high-traffic, industrial, residential, and rural environments. Prof Shailendra Kumar Yadav, a faculty member in the environmental science department at BBAU, emphasized that government agencies should set up monitoring stations in high-traffic zones, construction areas, and heavily populated regions to obtain an exact picture of air pollution affecting the general public.
Sanjeev Pradhan, LMC environmental engineer, stated, "We are conducting regular water sprinkling at pollution hotspots and carrying out large-scale plantation drives. Electric vehicles are being used for garbage collection and automated machines for road cleaning." Despite multiple attempts by TOI to contact UPPCB officials via phone and text messages for comments, none were available for response.
