Madhya Pradesh: The Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board (MPPCB) has identified serious deficiencies in the installation, operation, and supervision of Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS), bringing Indore’s air quality monitoring framework under regulatory action.
Following a recent detailed inspection, the MPPCB confirmed that the city’s reported Air Quality Index (AQI) does not accurately reflect actual pollution exposure. The MPPCB has directed that corrective measures, including relocating monitoring stations to scientifically appropriate locations, be implemented before current air quality data can be considered reliable.
The inspection revealed that most monitoring stations were located within parks, gardens, and green belts, away from high-traffic corridors and pollution hotspots. The MPPCB noted that such locations significantly underreport pollution levels and distort the citywide AQI average.
In contrast, the Chhoti Gwaltoli station, which is close to major transport hubs and busy roads, consistently recorded poor to very poor AQI levels during November and December, with PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations exceeding critical limits.
