Chandigarh, Oct 20 (IANS) The air pollution level during Diwali this year in Chandigarh, which is rated the greenest city in the country, was lower than last year, officials said Tuesday.
“The sound level and ambient air quality in terms of Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM), SPM, sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) were measured at seven different locations in Chandigarh as per the directions of the Central Pollution Control Board,” said an official spokesman.

“The RSPM level at all the locations was found lower than the last year. However, the RSPM level at Sector 22, one of the most populated and oldest sectors of this city, was within the permissible limits whereas RSPM level at the Panjab University, Kajheri, Manimajra and sector 9, which is the most upscale area where many VIPS and affluent people live, exceeded the permissible limits.”

The SPM level at all the locations except the Panjab University and Kajheri was lower than previous year. It was found that SO2 and NO2 level at all the locations was also within permissible limits.

The Panjab University campus is spread over 550 acres in Sectors 14 and 25 of Chandigarh.

“The analysis further revealed that sound level at all the locations except Manimajra and Sector 9 was lower than the previous year but it exceeded the permissible limits at all the locations. Maximum air and noise pollution was found in Manimajra,” the spokesman added.

The environment department of Chandigarh is undertaking this analysis every year for two days, but this year the analysis was done for three days - Oct 16-18.