39 Indian cities are polluted globally

LUDHIANA: Pollution is continuously rising in Ludhiana district. According to the IQAIR 2022 annual report, Ludhiana has slipped to the 19th position among cities in the world in particulate matter (PM) 2.5 (air pollutant) value, but Ludhiana is among the top 50 most polluted cities in the country in a Swiss-based air report. 

Notably, 39 Indian cities are polluted globally. Ludhiana ranks 60th in terms of most polluted cities in the world. In India, Ludhiana is ranked at 46th place as most polluted city. The report prepared by IQAIR brings together PM 2.5 air quality data (for the year 2022) from 7,323 cities in 131 countries, regions and territories. 39 of the top 50 most polluted cities globally are from India.

Ludhiana recorded an annual average particulate matter (PM) 2.5 value of 60.7 micrograms per metric cube (µg/m3) in the report based on 2022 data, ranking it 60th among cities in the world. In 2021, the annual average PM 2.5 value for Ludhiana was 71.8 micrograms per metric cube (µg/m3), ranking it 41st among cities in the world.

With an annual average PM 2.5 value of 60.7 µg/m3, Ludhiana ranks 46th among the most polluted cities in the country, the report said. Therefore, compared to 2021, the city's ranking among the most polluted cities in the country has dropped by 17 places. As it was ranked 29th among Indian cities in 2021. Among the 11 cities of Punjab, Ludhiana has got the fifth place in this list. In Fatehgarh Sahib, Lohar Majra Kalan stood first and Faridkot stood second. While Bathinda stood at the lowest position in the state.

In 2020, Ludhiana was ranked 142nd among cities in the world with a PM 2.5 value of 45.2 µg/m3. Among the cities of Punjab, Ludhiana is at the fifth place and Sri Fatehgarh Sahib is at the first place. Ludhiana was ranked 95th in 2018 and 127th in 2019.

According to data, annual average PM 2.5 in Ludhiana was 55.1 µg/m3 in 2018, which decreased to 49.3 µg/m3 in 2019, 45.2 µg/m3 in 2020. In 2021 it was 71.8 which was the highest since 2018.

Experts said that although Ludhiana has come down to the 19th position among the most polluted cities in the world, the level of air pollution in the city is consistently high with an annual average of PM 2.5. Greenpeace India campaign manager Avinash said that according to the report, the annual average PM 2.5 value in Ludhiana is higher than the prescribed World Health Organization (WHO) standard (PM 2.5 value is 5 µg/m3).

It has increased more than 10 times and not even a month has passed when it meets the WHO standard. He said that such high annual average PM 2.5 value creates health problems for humans and affects respiratory system, heart and mental health etc.

Meanwhile, the average monthly PM 2.5 value for Ludhiana shows that the city witnessed the highest pollution level of 102.7 µg/m3 in the month of November, while the lowest such level was recorded at 30.7 in the month of August. Avinash suggested that stubble burning appears to be a factor in such monthly PM 2.5 values in November and December, while pollution from austerity and vehicular fumes is increasing in the metropolis in other months as well.

City status

Lohar Majra Kalan - 30
Faridkot - 33
Sri Fatehgarh Sahib - 34
Mohali – 40
Ludhiana - 46
Patiala - 56
Amritsar - 71
Salaudi - 75
Daburji - 77
Jalandhar- 83
Bathinda - 141