Ludhiana: The city did not witness a single day of “poor” or “very poor” air quality during the first five months of 2026, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data released ahead of World Environment Day. The vast majority of days between January and May registered as “satisfactory”, a category the CPCB notes carries only a minor breathing discomfort risk for sensitive individuals.This milestone reflects a multi-year upward trend in the city’s air quality. CPCB records show that “satisfactory” air days for the January–May period rose steadily from 44 days in 2023 to 79 days in 2026. Conversely, “moderate” quality days—which can cause breathing discomfort for people with lung, asthma, and heart diseases—decreased from 77 days in 2023 to 70 days in 2026.The data reveals a dramatic reduction in severe pollution categories over the last four years. “Poor” air quality days during the five-month bracket plummeted from 22 in 2023, to two in 2025, and down to zero in 2026. Similarly, “very poor” air days fell from five in 2023, to one in 2024, and hit zero in both 2025 and 2026.An anonymous Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) official attributed this positive shift to a multipronged strategy designed to curb major local pollution sources, including factory emissions, stubble burning, and garbage burning.Residents’ concerns and demands for actionDespite the statistical progress, local residents emphasise that urban air pollution remains a pressing health issue that requires sustained intervention.Civic advocates, including local resident Narinder Singh, noted that while the five-month decrease is positive, ongoing coordination between govt agencies and the community is vital to safeguard vulnerable groups like children and the elderly. Residents also reported that unauthorised garbage burning persists in several neighbourhoods, causing localised suffocation and health distress.
