SIX CITIES OF ODISHA AMONG INDIA'S 16 MOST POLLUTED CITIES

New Delhi/Bhubaneswar (09/01/2024): Six cities of Odisha are now among the 16 most polluted cities in India in terms of air quality index. The Odisha cities are Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Angul, Balasore, Keonjhar and Talcher. These cities have failed to maintain the national ambient air quality standards fixed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

All these six cities registered an Air Quality Index (AQI) of more than 300 on January 8, which comes under the very poor category of air quality. The AQI between 301 and 400 is regarded as very poor.

It causes respiratory illness on prolonged exposure. While AQI in Delhi was 345, it was 352 in Angul on Monday.

Cuttack emerged as the second most polluted city in Odisha with AQI of 340.