Nagpur: Nagpur remained among Maharashtra’s most polluted cities during the summer months, with particulate pollution exceeding the prescribed annual benchmark on half of the monitored days between March and May, according to an analysis of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).

The analysis found that PM10 levels in Nagpur exceeded 60 micrograms per cubic metre (μg/m³) on 46 of 92 monitored days during the three summer months. This means the city recorded PM10 concentrations above the annual National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) benchmark on exactly half of the monitored days.

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In comparison, Mumbai and Pune recorded PM10 levels above the same 60 μg/m³ threshold on only around five to six days during the period.

Nagpur Among State’s Most Polluted Cities

Nagpur emerged as the second most polluted city in Maharashtra in May and fifth most polluted in April, according to the analysis.

The city’s average PM10 concentration in May was around 100 μg/m³, making it the second-highest May average recorded in Nagpur over the past eight years. In May 2022, the average PM10 concentration had reached around 140 μg/m³.

The analysis also found significant variations among Nagpur’s continuous air quality monitoring stations. The stations at GPO Civil Lines and Mahal consistently recorded PM10 concentrations above the prescribed safe levels during the three summer months.

Pollution Problem Extends Beyond Winter

Nagpur is among the 130 non-attainment cities covered under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and has also experienced elevated pollution levels during winter.

PM2.5 concentrations were reportedly the highest in Nagpur in Maharashtra during January and February this year. In November, Nagpur had ranked as the second most polluted city in the state, behind Sangli.

The latest findings indicate that the city’s air pollution problem is not limited to the winter season.

Road Dust, Industrial Emissions Major Contributors

According to Dr Manoj Kumar, analyst at CREA, elevated summer pollution is a recurring pattern in Nagpur but receives less attention compared with winter pollution.

He explained that while winter weather can trap pollutants close to the ground, summer pollution in Nagpur is characterised by persistently high levels of coarse particulate matter such as PM10.

Kumar said emission inventories and source-apportionment studies identify road dust and industrial emissions, including emissions from thermal power plants, as major contributors to PM10.

These sources continue to operate throughout the year, meaning pollution does not necessarily decline with the change in season.

Why Nagpur Records High Summer Pollution

Kumar said the number of polluted days in a city depends on several factors, including its emission profile, local weather conditions and the effectiveness of pollution-control measures.

Nagpur has substantial industrial activity, including nearby coal-fired thermal power plants. Industrial sources are identified as major contributors to particulate emissions, while road dust becomes particularly significant during the dry summer months.

With limited rainfall, dust can remain on roads and other surfaces and be repeatedly resuspended by vehicular movement.

Unlike coastal cities such as Mumbai, which benefit from sea breezes and greater atmospheric dispersion, Nagpur is an inland city where atmospheric ventilation can be comparatively weaker.

Experts Call for Stronger Dust Control

Leena Buddhe, founder and director of Nagpur-based Centre for Sustainable Development (CFSD), said cosmetic city beautification measures alone would not be sufficient to address the city’s air pollution.

She called for stricter enforcement of dust-suppression measures and specialised filtration upgrades at high-emission public spaces, including crematoriums.

Buddhe also advocated a faster transition towards public electric transport, stronger coordination among government agencies and expansion of green buffer zones in residential areas to help reduce particulate pollution.

She further said local authorities need to overcome administrative delays and make greater use of funds available under the National Clean Air Programme.

According to the latest figures cited in the analysis, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation has utilised only 46% of the funds allocated under NCAP.

The findings highlight the need for Nagpur to adopt a year-round approach to air pollution control rather than focusing primarily on winter air quality.