Pune air quality dips

AQI stays in moder- ate-to-poor range for weeks; citizens, experts flag PMC inaction on mandated measures

- Indu Bhagat

Citizens in Pune are increasingly alarmed by the city's deteriorating air quality, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) consistently hovering in the moderate (101-200) to poor (201-300) categories for several weeks and occasionally touching higher levels.

From Oct 1 to Dec 15, of the 76 days, around 48 recorded AQI levels in the moderate category, while six days-all in Dec 2025-fell in the poor category.

Despite repeatedly crossing these thresholds, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has yet to activate the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

The GRAP is an emergency anti-air pollution strategy designed for cities to tackle severe air quality deterioration. The plan aims to take progressive, proactive measures to prevent pollution from worsening, rather than reacting only after levels become critical. It also guides citizen groups on steps to reduce exposure.