The air quality across Jammu city stayed within the “Moderately Polluted” category this Diwali, showing a slight improvement from last year. Although festive fireworks caused a visible rise in particulate matter, overall conditions were cleaner compared to Diwali 2024, offering a glimmer of progress in pollution control.
Air Quality Monitoring Across Key Locations in Jammu
Data from five National Air Monitoring Programme (NAMP) stations — SPCB Office Complex Narwal, M A M Stadium, Bikram Chowk, Dogra Hall, and Janipur — revealed the city’s pollution levels during the festival. The Jammu & Kashmir Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC) monitored four key pollutants: Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM/PM10), PM2.5, Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), and Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2).
According to the compiled readings, RSPM (PM10) levels ranged from 94 µg/m³ at M A M Stadium to 165 µg/m³ at Janipur — significantly exceeding the permissible limit of 100 µg/m³. Other locations reported 126 µg/m³ at Narwal, 156 µg/m³ at Bikram Chowk, and 136 µg/m³ at Dogra Hall.
PM2.5 Levels Show Variation Across Monitoring Stations
The fine particulate matter PM2.5, known for its deeper impact on respiratory health, was found to be highest at Janipur (48.48 µg/m³), followed by Bikram Chowk (42.36 µg/m³). The lowest concentration was recorded at M A M Stadium (25.29 µg/m³), reflecting spatial variation influenced by traffic and population density.
Gaseous Pollutants Within Safe Limits
Encouragingly, gaseous pollutants like Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) and Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) remained within the safe limits prescribed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). SO2 levels ranged between 4.25 µg/m³ and 6.05 µg/m³, while NO2 values varied from 17.1 µg/m³ at Narwal to 27.29 µg/m³ at Dogra Hall. These readings indicate that vehicular emissions and industrial contributions were relatively stable during the festive period.
Average AQI Reflects a Cleaner Diwali for Jammu
The mean 24-hour average across Jammu on Diwali day was recorded as:
- RSPM (PM10): 137.8 µg/m³
- PM2.5: 39.93 µg/m³
- SO2: 5.56 µg/m³
- NO2: 19.18 µg/m³
These data points translated into an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 125, keeping the city’s air in the “Moderately Polluted” bracket. This marked an improvement over 2024’s AQI of 161, reflecting a positive trend toward cleaner air during the festival.
While Jammu’s air quality remains moderately polluted, the improvement from last year suggests that collective responsibility and favorable weather can make a tangible difference. Continued awareness, responsible celebration practices, and stricter pollution monitoring can help the city move toward a cleaner and healthier Diwali in the future.
