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Haryana's Air Quality Monitoring Stations Shut Down, Leaving Residents in the Dark
29 Jul
Summary
- All 29 air quality stations in Haryana stopped working in April 2023 due to expired contracts
- Many Indian cities, including Faridabad and Gurugram, have some of the worst air quality in the country
- Between January and June 2023, 250 out of 293 Indian cities had air quality worse than WHO standards
In a concerning development, the Indian state of Haryana has found itself without a single working machine to measure the quality of its air. As of April 2023, all 29 air quality stations in the state have stopped functioning, as their contracts were not renewed. This leaves Haryana's residents in the dark about the true extent of the air pollution problem they face.
Air pollution is already a major issue in many Indian cities, with Faridabad and Gurugram, which are near the capital Delhi, being among the most polluted. In fact, Faridabad has even been dubbed India's most polluted city. Breathing this dirty air can lead to serious health problems, especially for children, including asthma, coughing, and breathing difficulties.
The lack of air quality monitoring in Haryana is part of a broader crisis across India. Between January and June 2023, a staggering 250 out of 293 Indian cities had air quality that was worse than the standards set by the World Health Organization. Even in places like Byrnihat in Meghalaya, where the town is surrounded by nature, factories producing bricks, steel, and cement are contributing to the pollution problem.
