Air quality ‘very poor’ in Chandigarh, Haryana, Punjab fares relatively better

The Union Territory of Chandigarh and several places in Haryana on Friday recorded very poor air quality, while in neighbouring Punjab the situation was comparatively better.
The air quality index (AQI) in Chandigarh was 327 in the morning, according to the Central Pollution Control Board’s Sameer app, which provides hourly updates.
On Thursday, Chandigarh, the common capital of Haryana and Punjab, saw the AQI falling to the ‘severe’ category for the first time in the season.
The air quality in several parts of Haryana was also recorded in the very poor bracket on Friday.
As per the CPCB’s Sameer app data available at 10am, the AQI was 323 in Gurugram, 346 in Bhiwani, 318 in Ballabhgarh, 318 in Jind, 313 in Karnal, 334 in Kaithal and 304 in Sonepat.
In Punjab, Amritsar recorded an AQI of 225, Ludhiana 178, Mandi Gobindgarh 203, Rupnagar 228 and Jalandhar 241.
An AQI between zero and 50 is considered good, 51 and 100 satisfactory, 101 and 200 moderate, 201 and 300 poor, 301 and 400 very poor, 401 and 450 severe and above 450 severe plus.
Stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana after harvesting the paddy crop in October and November is often blamed for the rise in air pollution in the region.
As the window for sowing the rabi crop, wheat, is short after paddy harvest, some farmers set their fields on fire to quickly clear the crop residue.