Guwahati's Air Quality Concerns: Are Monitoring Stations Enough?

Guwahati is grappling with significant air quality challenges, prompting skepticism about the reliability of pollution data from government agencies. With only a few monitoring stations in place, experts argue that the current setup fails to provide a true representation of the city's air quality. Recent reports indicate alarming AQI levels, with calls for additional monitoring stations in pollution hotspots. As the city struggles with unhealthy air quality, the need for improved monitoring becomes increasingly urgent. This article delves into the current situation and the implications for public health and safety.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 4, 2025, 10:14 IST

Rising Air Quality Issues in Guwahati

Guwahati, Dec 4: As worries about the declining air quality in Guwahati grow, doubts are surfacing regarding the accuracy of pollution data provided by government bodies.

Critics point out that the limited number of monitoring stations in the city may not provide a comprehensive view of the air quality situation.

On Wednesday, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 109 for Guwahati, classifying it as 'moderate'. However, this figure is based on data from only three out of the four Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Systems (CAAQMS).

The city is equipped with four CAAQMS, situated at the Pollution Control Board Assam (PCBA) headquarters in Bamunimaidam, Panbazar (Cotton University), Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, and IIT Guwahati.

For the past two days, the CPCB's data has only included readings from three of these stations.

According to AQI.in, the air quality index in Guwahati spiked to 178 at midnight and hovered around that level at noon today. The average AQI for November was recorded at 119, which falls into the poor category.

So far in December, the average AQI has reached 167, indicating unhealthy air quality.

Real-time monitoring platform IQAir reported an AQI of 133, categorized as 'unhealthy for sensitive groups', at 4:30 PM on Wednesday.

The CPCB's readings from the IITG, Panbazar, and LGBI stations were utilized by the global pollution monitoring agency, which noted that the PM2.5 levels in the evening were 9.7 times higher than the World Health Organization's annual guideline for PM2.5.

Experts emphasize the need for additional monitoring stations, particularly in areas prone to pollution, to accurately assess the situation. The pollution levels near flyover construction sites appear inconsistent with the AQI data released by government agencies.

Government standards suggest that there should be at least five CAAQMS: two in residential zones, one in a traffic-heavy area, one in a commercial district, and another in an industrial zone, along with manual monitoring stations.

Professor Sharad Gokhale from the Civil Engineering department at IIT Guwahati concurs that more monitoring stations are essential, especially at busy traffic intersections.

“For instance, Jalukbari has become a significant bottleneck where traffic jams are frequent due to heavy congestion from multiple directions. Such locations require additional monitoring,” he stated, noting that the IITG station, established under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), primarily monitors rural areas and nearby factories.

In 2024, eleven districts in Assam are listed among the top 50 most polluted districts in India, according to a satellite-based PM2.5 assessment. A study by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) revealed that all 34 districts monitored in Assam surpassed the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) in 2024.