The air quality dropped to “very poor” in Ballygunge on Thursday, while many complained about a haze and burning smell in the air.
The air quality index (AQI) for Ballygunge, prepared by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) based on data generated by the continuous air quality monitoring station in the south Calcutta locality, was 318 at 7pm on Thursday.
An AQI of 301 to 400 has been classified as “very poor”, which is only one notch better than the worst grade — “severe”.
According to the CPCB, “very poor” air can lead to “respiratory illness on prolonged exposure”.
Calcutta has seven continuous air quality monitoring stations. The air quality recorded at 7pm was “poor” at five other stations. “Poor” air can cause “breathing discomfort to most people on prolonged exposure”.
Only one station — Fort William — reported “moderate” air quality. “Moderate” air can cause “breathing discomfort to the people with lungs, asthma and heart diseases”.
“There was a haze in many places. I was travelling through EM Bypass and saw a haze,” said a south Calcutta resident. “There was also a burning smell in some places.”
The civic body has decided to water the roads and asked people involved in construction to keep materials covered.