Ghaziabad , Barely an hour’s drive from the national capital, Loni in western Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday recorded air quality that falls in the severe category, highlighting its persistent air pollution crisis with residents urging for a permanent solution.
More than 1,000 small and medium industrial units, vehicular emissions, poorly maintained roads, construction dust, open garbage burning and brick kilns are among the major contributors, officials said. For residents, however, the problem extends well beyond the post-Diwali spike. District Magistrate Ravindra Kumar Mandar has directed the Ghaziabad Development Authority, municipal corporation, UPPCB, transport department and police to prepare coordinated pollution-control plans. The municipal corporation has undertaken mechanised road sweeping and water sprinkling, although a proposed drone-based sprinkling initiative faced a setback after an inadequate number of companies responded to the tender. Residents say such interventions need to be sustained rather than confined to pollution emergencies. Attempts to contact Loni Municipal Council chairperson Ranjeeta Dhama for her response were unsuccessful.
Local resident Ravindra Bansal said people in pollution-affected areas were experiencing breathing difficulties, eye irritation and coughing, with children, senior citizens, outdoor workers and asthma patients particularly vulnerable. Residents were also keeping their windows shut during peak pollution hours, he said.
