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Air Quality Stations Hidden in Gardens to Mask Pollution
9 Jan
Summary
- Air quality monitors were deliberately placed in gardens to hide pollution.
- Data from these stations will not be accepted until issues are fixed.
- Private agency failed to provide valid calibration and used expired gas.
Indore, a city recently recognized for its cleanliness, is now facing allegations of a pollution data cover-up. The Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board (MPPCB) has ordered the shutdown of all automated air quality monitoring stations after discovering they were deliberately placed within gardens and green zones. This strategic placement aimed to underplay real pollution levels, compromising the scientific reliability of the data collected.
The MPPCB's audit revealed "serious and similar deficiencies" in the operation, maintenance, and supervision of these Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS). Specifically, the chosen locations at Regional Park, Maguda Nagar, Bijasan Mata Temple Hill, and Residency Park were found to be deep inside gardens, away from main roads and activity hubs. This violates technical guidelines, preventing accurate pollution assessment. The findings follow a joint inspection on December 29 and 30, 2025.
Further scrutiny highlighted a lack of oversight by the Indore Municipal Corporation and serious irregularities with the private agency operating the stations. This included unprovided calibration reports, unmaintained logbooks, and the use of tampered, expired calibration gas cylinders. The board has directed the civic body to reposition stations scientifically, take action against the vendor, and appoint an officer for data validation. Until these deficiencies are corrected, Indore's air quality data will be withheld from public and regulatory platforms.
