Bhubaneswar: The air quality in seven urban areas in Odisha, including Balasore, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Baripada, Keonjhar, Rairangpur, and Angul, has been declared as very poor.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on Sunday revealed that the AQI in Balasore (334) was the worst in Odisha, a degree higher than in Delhi (333) on Sunday. Similarly, the AQI in Cuttack was 320, Baripada 316, Keonjhar 314, Bhubaneswar 311 and Rairangpur 308. The AQI in Angul (300) has been categorised as poor.
It is believed that environmental issues coupled with climate change have led to the deterioration in the air quality in these Odisha urban areas. The situation has worsened owing to rampant construction and other activities.
It is worth mentioning here that prolonged exposure to very poor-quality air may result in breathing problems and respiratory ailments among people as well as animals.
