Ghaziabad Tops India's Most Polluted Cities List in November, Delhi Ranks 4th

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A recent study by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air has revealed that Ghaziabad in the National Capital Region has recorded the highest air pollution levels in India for the month of November. The city's average PM2.5 concentration was 224 micrograms per cubic meter, exceeding national air quality standards on all 30 days of the month. Ghaziabad was followed by other cities in the top 10 most polluted list, including Noida, Bahadurgarh, Delhi, Hapur, Greater Noida, Baghpat, Sonipat, Meerut, and Rohtak. Uttar Pradesh accounted for six cities, Haryana for three, and Delhi for one. Notably, most cities in the top 10 recorded higher PM2.5 levels than the previous year, with Delhi ranking fourth with a monthly average of 215 micrograms per cubic meter. The capital experienced 23 'very poor' days, six 'severe' days, and one 'poor' day. According to the report, stubble burning contributed less to Delhi's pollution this year, averaging 7% in November compared to 20% last year. However, the study highlights that other sources such as transport, industry, power plants, and combustion sources remain the dominant drivers of air pollution in the region. The study also found that 20 out of 29 NCR cities recorded higher pollution levels than the previous year, and many cities still did not register a single day within national air quality standards. Analyst Manoj Kumar from CREA emphasized that sector-specific emission cuts are necessary to prevent cities from breaching standards. At the state level, Rajasthan had the highest number of polluted cities, with 23 of 34 exceeding national limits in November. Haryana followed with 22 of 25, and Uttar Pradesh had 14 of 20 cities above the standard. On the other hand, Shillong in Meghalaya emerged as the cleanest city, with a monthly average PM2.5 concentration of just 7 micrograms per cubic meter.