Kolkata Gasps: Air Quality Plummets to 'Poor' Ahead of Festive Season

As the vibrant glow of Kali Puja and Diwali approaches, an unwelcome guest has settled over Kolkata: a thick blanket of 'poor' air quality. While the city prepares for its grand celebrations, environmental concerns loom large, prompting a closer look at what's truly clouding the festive spirit.

According to the West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB), the sharp decline in air quality, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) hitting the 'poor' category in various parts of the city, is not directly attributable to firecrackers – at least not yet.

Instead, officials point to a complex interplay of atmospheric conditions and regional factors as the primary culprits.

Drilling down into the science, the WBPCB highlights several key contributors. A major factor is the significantly reduced wind speed, which acts like a suffocating lid, trapping pollutants close to the ground.

This, coupled with the onset of lower temperatures, prevents the dispersal of particulate matter, allowing them to accumulate and worsen the air we breathe. Adding to this localized atmospheric phenomenon are the ever-present vehicular emissions, which see a natural surge during the bustling festive season.

Beyond the city's immediate confines, a broader regional issue plays a crucial role: stubble burning.

Agricultural practices in neighboring states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Odisha contribute significantly to transboundary air pollution. The smoke plumes from these burnings travel long distances, eventually reaching metropolitan areas like Kolkata and exacerbating the existing poor air conditions.

While firecrackers remain a perennial point of contention during festive periods, and the Supreme Court has indeed placed restrictions on the use of conventional crackers, advocating for green alternatives, the current downturn in Kolkata's air quality is being presented by the WBPCB as a more systemic issue.

This distinction underscores the multifaceted challenge of urban air pollution, where local emissions intersect with regional agricultural practices and meteorological conditions to create a potent mix.

With the festive season in full swing, residents are urged to remain aware of the prevailing air quality.

The situation calls for a holistic approach to environmental management, one that addresses not only immediate sources of pollution but also the broader climatic and regional influences that shape the air we breathe.