Kullu: Parwanoo in Solan district recorded the worst air quality among Himachal Pradesh’s 12 monitoring stations on Diwali, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 219, placing it in the poor category.Baddi followed with an AQI of 180, while Una and Paonta Sahib recorded AQI readings of 171 each, according to pollution data released on Tuesday by the Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board (HPSPCB) for Nov 8.The data showed considerable variation in air quality across the state, with industrial and lower-altitude locations recording higher pollution levels than hill stations.Seven of the 12 monitoring stations recorded moderate air quality, while four were in the satisfactory category. Parwanoo was the only station to fall in the poor category.The industrial belt of Solan district recorded some of the highest pollution levels. Parwanoo registered PM10 (particulate matter) at 269 micrograms per cubic metre and PM2.5 at 89 micrograms per cubic metre. Baddi recorded PM10 at 145 and PM2.5 at 84 micrograms per cubic metre.Una also reported elevated particulate matter levels, with PM10 at 207.2 and PM2.5 at 68.6 micrograms per cubic metre. Paonta Sahib recorded PM10 at 147.7 and PM2.5 at 81.3 micrograms per cubic metre.Interestingly, Baddi, which is considered the state’s most polluted industrial town, had recorded higher AQI levels of 227 and 190 on Nov 6 and Nov 7, respectively, before Diwali.Among the hill stations, Manali and Shimla recorded satisfactory air quality, with AQI readings of 70 and 66, respectively. Kala Amb also remained in the satisfactory category with an AQI of 58, while Nalagarh recorded an AQI of 97.Dharamshala, Damtal, Sundernagar and Barotiwala recorded moderate air quality, with AQI readings of 117, 101, 111 and 109, respectively.According to the National Air Quality Index prescribed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), an AQI of 0-50 falls in the good category, 51-100 in the satisfactory category, 101-200 in the moderate category, 201-300 in the poor category, 301-400 in the very poor category, and above 400 in the severe category.Box: AQI readings on Nov 8City / Station AQI CategoryParwanoo 219 PoorBaddi 180 ModerateUna 171 ModeratePaonta Sahib 171 ModerateDharamshala 117 ModerateSundernagar 111 ModerateBarotiwala 109 ModerateDamtal 101 ModerateNalagarh 97 SatisfactoryManali 70 SatisfactoryShimla 66 SatisfactoryKala Amb 58 SatisfactorySource: Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board
