Air Pollutionis rapidly becoming a matter of concern in Gujarat and Maharashtra despite their geographical advantages and favorable meteorology, according to a new analysis of regional air pollution levels by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Gujarat’s cities are more polluted than those in Maharashtra, the study says.
Vatva and Ankleshwar have the most polluted air in the region with the 2021 Average of PM2.5 at 67 microgram per cubic metre. This is followed by Vapi and Ahmedabad with 2021 annual Averages at 54 microgram per cubic metre and 53 microgram per cubic metre, respectively.
With 102 days of poor and very poor AQI, Ankleshwar in Gujarat has the unhealthiest days in the region, followed by Kalyan with 84 days, Vatva (75 days), and Navi Mumbai (54 days).
Vapi has 48 days of poor and very poor AQI — but its data is missing for 138 days (mainly for the winter months). Bad-air days begin to build up in the cities of the western states during the end of December and persist till the end of January.
The analysis covered 56 continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations (CAAQMS) spread across 15 cities in two states: Maharashtra – one station each in Aurangabad, Kalyan, Nagpur, Nashik and Solapur, two in Chandrapur, four in Navi Mumbai, eight in Pune, and 21 stations in Mumbai; and Gujarat – one station each in Ankleshwar, Nandesari, Vapi and Vatva, four in Gandhinagar, and eight stations in Ahmedabad.