The Assam Pollution Control Board (APCB) has vehemently denied recent reports labeling Guwahati as the second most polluted city in the world, dismissing them as false and not based on authentic sources.
A statement issued by Dr. Shantanu Kumar Dutta, Secretary of APCB, addressed the misleading report concerning Guwahati's air quality. The report, compiled by IQAir, a Swiss-based air quality technology organization, purportedly ranked Guwahati as the second most polluted city in Central and South Asia based on the average PM2.5 concentration in 2023.
According to the IQAir report, Guwahati recorded a PM2.5 concentration as high as 105.4 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023, surpassing even that of Delhi. However, APCB refutes these claims, citing government data which indicates an average air quality index (AQI) of around 52 for both 2022 and 2023.
The APCB emphasizes that there is no cause for panic among the citizens of Guwahati, as the air pollution levels, as monitored by sophisticated Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) at four locations across the city, remain under control. These monitoring stations, approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the Government of India, continuously collect and record data on air quality.
Data from these monitoring stations show an average monthly PM2.5 concentration of 52.8 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023, with a maximum concentration of 98.3 micrograms per cubic meter recorded in July and a minimum of 22.62 micrograms per cubic meter in January. These figures contradict the exaggerated values reported by IQAir, whose data sources remain unknown.
Furthermore, the APCB has informed both the Government of Assam and the Union Government about the misleading nature of the IQAir report. The Board urges citizens of Guwahati to carry on with their daily activities without fear and to disregard such unscientific and baseless reports that may cause unnecessary alarm.
In light of these clarifications, it is imperative for the public to rely on authentic government data sources for accurate information regarding air quality in Guwahati and other cities.
For further information, citizens can access the recorded data online through the Central Pollution Control Board website.