Bhubaneswar: For the denizens of State Capital Bhubaneswar, nights have turned hazy since the last 72 hours. Sample check any major thoroughfare of the city. One will witness display of haziness all around. Don’t take it lightly as wintry fog. This is nothing but the manifestation of Delhi syndrome here.
As per IMD data, the wind flow pattern over Bhubaneswar has been from north east. The speed of wind has fallen to below 4kmph (3.7). With such low wind speed and dipping mixing depth, the ventilation index in the State Capital has fallen below 5000m2/s. The result: the Delhi syndrome has come into play in Bhubaneswar. The map belwo shows how deep the PM 2.5 has spiked the Odisha air.
HOW POLLUTED IS ODISHA AIR?
Take a look at the data of air pollution available with the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OPSCB). The AQI is listed below.
CITIES | AIR QUALITY | AQI VALUE |
BHUBANESWAR | POOR | 216 (average) Night Time 312 |
CUTTACK | POOR | 207 (average) Night Time 298 |
ROURKELA | POOR | 280 (average) Night Time 330 |
TALCHER | POOR | 266 (average) Night time 350 |
KEONJHAR | SATISFACTORY | 78 (Average) Night time below 150 |
BRAJRAJNAGAR | MODERATE | 110 (Average), Night Time Poor |
BARBIL | POOR | 166 (average) Night Time Poor |
BALASORE | POOR | 229 (Average) Night time Very Poor (300) |
BARIPADA | MODERATE | 188 (average) Night Time Poor |
ANGUL | POOR | 252 (average) Night time 321 |
A study of the above data shows the following.
- Only 1 city (Keonjhar) in the State has a satisfactory air quality, though it turned moderate during the night time.
- 2 cities are in moderate category.
- 7 cities, major hubs of the State, have an AQI that oscillates between poor to very poor.
- Rourkela air is the worst polluted in the State, followed by State Capital Bhubaneswar.
- The night time air pollution in Bhubaneswar, Rourkela and Talcher seems very dangerous.
- As the air quality turns very poor, so citizens having respiratory problems, cardiovascular diseases need to avoid venturing outdoor during the hours of night in the cities of Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Rourkela, Talcher and Balasore.
WHAT IS SPIKING THE AIR?
The data with OSPCB shows except for Talcher, where Ozone has been the major pollutant, in the rest of cities it’s PM 2.5 which is spiking the air.
