Sri Vijaya Puram, November 6: The Andaman and Nicobar Pollution Control Committee (ANPCC) has begun monitoring air quality and noise levels at three locations in Sri Vijaya Puram ahead of Diwali, as authorities assess the pollution impact of firecracker use during the festival. The 15-day exercise will track particulate matter, harmful gases and selected metals in the air, along with noise levels, to determine changes in pollution levels before and after the celebrations.
The monitoring programme, being conducted under the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) protocol, follows directions issued by the Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in its October 23, 2018 order in Original Application No. 728 of 2015. The Andaman and Nicobar Administration has restricted firecracker bursting to a two-hour window, from 8 pm to 10 pm, during Diwali.
ANPCC has established monitoring stations at Aberdeen Bazaar, Dollygunj and Mithakari. The stations will collect data over a 15-day period, covering seven days before and seven days after the festival. Diwali falls on November 8 this year, making the monitoring period particularly relevant for assessing the impact of firecracker emissions and noise during the celebrations.
The air quality assessment will cover sulphur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and particulate matter, including PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅. The committee will also examine the presence of lead, nickel and arsenic in PM₁₀, along with aluminium, barium and iron in PM₂.₅. Continuous noise monitoring will take place on pre-Diwali and Diwali days to assess sound levels associated with the celebrations.
The findings will help determine the Air Quality Index (AQI) for each monitoring location. The AQI categorises ambient air quality into six levels, ranging from Good to Severe, providing an indication of pollution intensity and its potential health effects.
An AQI reading between 0 and 50 falls under the Good category and has minimal health impact, while readings between 51 and 100 are classified as Satisfactory, with minor breathing discomfort possible among sensitive individuals. The Moderate category, covering 101–200, indicates breathing discomfort among people with lung or heart disease and asthma.
Readings between 201 and 300 fall under Poor, which can cause breathing discomfort to most people during prolonged exposure. Very Poor air quality, ranging from 301 to 400, is associated with respiratory illness following prolonged exposure, while readings above 400 are classified as Severe and can affect even healthy people, with more serious consequences for those with existing diseases.
During the previous year’s assessment, both Aberdeen Bazaar and Dollygunj recorded Satisfactory AQI levels. The results of the current exercise will establish the corresponding air quality status across all three monitoring locations.
The monitoring comes amid concerns over the effects of firecracker emissions on air quality and the exposure of vulnerable groups to pollution during the festive period. The Administration’s restrictions and ANPCC’s assessment form part of the measures to regulate firecracker-related air and noise pollution across the islands.
