PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun The Air Quality Index was poor in Dehradun following Deepawali celebrations though the pollution levels were a bit lower than in the previous year. According to data from the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board (UKPCB), the AQI at Clock Tower was 254 and 230 in Nehru Colony which is 34 and 13 figures lower than last year respectively. The pollution levels in Rishikesh were less than in Dehradun with an AQI of 135 which is 38 points better than the previous year’s AQI. In the Garhwal region, Tehri district registered a satisfactory AQI at 66. This was the first time when the air quality was measured in Tehri. Among the other cities in the State where AQI was measured, Kashipur registered an AQI of 265 while the same was 111 in Nainital and 190 in Haridwar. It is pertinent to mention here that the UKPCB began monitoring the air quality on October 13 and will continue the exercise till October 27. The AQI on most days in Dehradun was moderate before Deepawali but dipped to poor due to the fireworks on the festive occasion celebrated on Monday. Despite this, the pollution levels have been lower in the provisional State capital compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, the UKPCB regional officer Amit Pokhriyal said that the board used drones to sprinkle water in places where the density of smoke is higher. The board used this method in nine prominent places in the city including Clock Tower, Rajpur Road, ISBT and the Survey Chowk, apart from locations where pollution levels were apparently higher. This technique was also used in four locations in Rishikesh to clear the air. According to experts, the difference of opinion regarding the exact date of Deepawali celebrations also contributed to comparatively lesser air pollution on a single day as people celebrated the festival across two nights.
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