Noida: As the winter season approaches, the UP Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) has listed 10 hotspots in Noida where pollution levels are likely to exceed a certain threshold. However, the authority has yet to identify any such areas in Greater Noida. Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) measures will be implemented in the city next month. Moreover, identifying pollution hotspots in advance helps authorities manage the situation more effectively.
In the first half of November last year, Greater Noida's air quality index (AQI) level exceeded that of Delhi on seven occasions. On other days, the numbers hovered very close to those of the capital city. The most polluted day for Greater Noida was November 3, with the AQI reaching 494, surpassing Delhi's 468. As a result, the city was listed among the nation's most polluted cities, a TOI report added.
D.K. Gupta, UPPCB Regional Officer for Greater Noida, said, "We will be finalizing the list of pollution hotspots by Monday. Like last year, the total number of hotspots is expected to be fewer," as quoted by TOI.
As per the report, Noida had a total of 9 pollution hotspots last year, including Kasna Road, the unpaved road from Police Line to Kisan Chowk, and Tilpata Roundabout. Additionally, Greater Noida has two air quality monitoring stations, one at Knowledge Park 3 near Sharda University, and the other at Knowledge Park 5 near Balak Inter College (Greater Noida West). The first station covers industrial areas in Surajpur, academic institutes in Knowledge Park, and the heavy traffic stretch at Pari Chowk. The Knowledge Park 5 station covers Gaur City and surrounding areas, the TOI report added.