Jaipur’s Air Quality Woes; Adarsh Nagar, Police Commissionerate, Shastri Nagar

A latest report by Greenpeace India, “Beyond North India: NO₂ Pollution and Health Risks in Seven Major Indian Cities”, reveals alarming levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) pollution in Jaipur.

“This report underscores a crucial truth: air pollution is not limited to Delhi or North India. The transportation sector is the largest contributor to high NO₂ levels across cities in India. As cities grow, the rise in private vehicles worsens air quality and jeopardizes public health. To tackle this, we need a fundamental shift towards a sustainable, efficient public transportation system. Investing in cleaner, more accessible transit options is not just an environmental necessity—it’s an urgent public health imperative. The government must prioritize cleaner mobility solutions to ensure a healthier future, said Selomi Garniak, Climate Justice Campaigner at Greenpeace India. 

Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) is a near-invisible toxic gas closely linked to traffic and fuel burning, common in urban areas. That means vehicles and energy generation from fossil fuel are important sources of NO₂.

The city’s 2023 annual average NO₂ concentration exceeded the WHO health based guideline at all six CAAQM (Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations). The station with the highest NO₂ annual average was Adarsh Nagar, which even breached the less stringent Indian national standard

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that the annual average concentration of NO₂ in the air should not be more than 10 µg/m³ while the annual average recommended by NAAQS  is 40 µg/m³.Three stations (Adarsh Nagar, Police Commissionerate, Shastri Nagar) measured NO₂ concentrations higher than this guideline over 60% of the year, and Adarsh Nagar station recorded 277 days exceeding the WHO guideline. Adarsh Nagar station even recorded 20 days exceeding the much less stringent Indian national standard.

India’s response to air pollution, especially NO₂ pollution, falls short of global health standards. The country’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) are less stringent than WHO guidelines and have not been updated in 15 years, leaving millions vulnerable to the harmful effects of poor air quality.

To address the air pollution crisis in cities like Jaipur, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Pune, Greenpeace India recommends a region-specific approach. This includes updating NAAQS, strengthening primary healthcare to diagnose pollution-related conditions, implementing a health advisory system, and prioritizing interventions for vulnerable groups (children, elderly, pregnant women, outdoor workers, and those with pre-existing conditions).