MP’s air quality crisis: Too much smoke, too few monitoring stations

With the onset of winter, many parts of India, including Madhya Pradesh, experience worsening air pollution. The primary reasons for this seasonal increase are the higher air density and lower temperatures. During foggy conditions, pollutants and hazardous gases combine, creating a toxic mix in the atmosphere. The smoke of stubble burning by farmers after harvesting the Kharif crop in November and the smoke of firecrackers lit during Diwali make this pollution deadly.

This year, too, Madhya Pradesh is second after Punjab in terms of stubble burning. According to the air quality index report from November 9, AQI levels in several areas of Bhopal exceeded 300. The AQI was recorded at 316 in TT Nagar, 301 near the collectorate office, and 323 at the Environment Complex Monitoring Centre.

Air quality monitoring plays an important role in the fight against pollution. In such a situation, it is very important to know whether there are enough resources for air quality monitoring in a state like Madhya Pradesh.

What are the CPCB guidelines on air quality monitoring? 

The Central Pollution Control Board of India has issued several guidelines regarding air pollution data collection. These guidelines are also based on the standard number IS 5182 (4) of the Indian Bureau of  Standards. These standards lay emphasis on the location of the data collection location.

According to the CPCB, data collection sites should be located at least 25 metres away from active sources of pollution, such as chimneys, etc., and in areas from which the status of pollution in an area can be ascertained.

The sample taken should be at least 3 metres above the ground. Apart from this, where the monitoring station has been set up, air should come from all sides, and the flow of air should be normal.

Further, CPCB emphasises the adjustment of automatic and manual monitoring in its guidelines. While manual mode provides detailed information on the presence of pollutants, automatic monitoring systems provide real-time data, which is essential for timely decision-making and public health advisories.

Manual methods use the gravimetric method for pollutants like PM10 and PM2.5 and chemical analysis for gases. Automatic monitoring methods like chemiluminescence, NDIR (for gaseous pollutants), and BAM (for particulate matter) are used for real-time monitoring.

In order to maintain the authenticity of data related to air quality, CPCB has laid down Quality Assurance and Quality Control-focused (QA/QC) protocols. These protocols cover elements such as positioning of monitoring devices, audit of sampling procedures, and training of data collection systems. 

In addition, in one of its documents, CPCB explained the shortcomings of AQI monitoring and said that since this real-time data is fed without any testing, there is scope for anomalies. So, this data can not be used for statutory purposes. Apart from this, sensor-based mechanical equipment is used in real-time monitoring, and there is also a possibility of a malfunction, affecting our results.

What do the norms say?

The CPCB, in its recommendation, has considered the standards prescribed in the Indian Bureau of Standards Standard No. IS 5182 (14) as the criteria for setting up a monitoring station. This standard considers the population of the district/city as the base. According to this recommendation, there should be at least 7 to 8 monitoring stations in cities with a population of 10 lakh to 50 lakh in terms of particulate matter.

If cities with a population of 50 lakh to 1 crore are taken into account, 8 to 10 monitoring stations are required in these cities. At the same time, it has been recommended to set up at least 10 to 12 monitoring stations in areas with a population of more than 1 crore.

At least 4 monitoring centres have been recommended for smaller cities, i.e., 4 to 6 in the case of cities with populations of 1 to 10 lakh and less than 1 lakh. Similar to this, the CPCB has recommended setting standards for gaseous pollutants.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) suggests about 1 station per 1–2 million people in urban areas, while the CPCB in India recommends at least 1 station per 10 sq. km in highly populated zones. Major cities like Delhi and Mumbai have around 30–50 stations due to high pollution and population density, whereas medium-sized cities might have 10–15 stations. Smaller cities generally require 3–5 stations to ensure comprehensive monitoring across key areas.

This distribution of monitoring stations is essential for ensuring comprehensive coverage of air quality variations in urban areas, effective tracking of pollution trends, and the establishment of air quality standards. But these are just recommendations, and standards have  been ignored in many cities of Madhya Pradesh.

Situation in Madhya Pradesh

If data from Census 2011 and CPCB documents are to be believed, many cities in Madhya Pradesh do not meet the standards. 

Chhindwara, with a population of over 1.1 million, operates with only two monitoring stations—well below the recommended ten for cities of its size. Similarly, Gwalior, home to one million people, has only seven stations, though ten are needed. Indore, a major city in the state and also known as 'mini Bombay' with a population surpassing two million, experiences a substantial deficiency, possessing only nine monitoring stations instead of the necessary fifteen. 

Several mines operate in Katni, which has a population of 3 lakh 13 thousand. However, there are only three stations to monitor the pollution they are responsible for, when there should be at least seven.

With a population of 1.26 lakh, Pithampur is called the Detroit of the state due to its industries. But there are only three monitoring stations to measure the pollution in Pithampur, while the need is 6 stations here. 

Singrauli, which has a population of around 11 lakh and has a coal plant, causes a large amount of air pollution. But only 4 monitoring stations are working in Singrauli, while there should be at least 10. At the same time, the state capital Bhopal also does not meet these standards with 18 lakh people. Because there are 8 stations in Bhopal against the required 13 stations, it is insufficient to describe the true state of air quality. 

Overall, the inadequate number of air quality monitoring stations in these cities can hinder the effective management of air quality and impact public health initiatives and the environment. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director (research and advocacy) of the Centre for Science and Environment, also highlights the limited monitoring in the state.

The CSE report of 2023 highlights that 25 districts of Madhya Pradesh lack adequate population coverage for air quality monitoring. This points to the inadequacy of infrastructure in monitoring air quality.

CPCB has laid down the criteria for how many surveillance centres are required based on the population size. However, the current network is inadequate in this regard.

In addition to all this, Anumita also gave a description of the necessary monitoring centres in some districts of the state based on the study of CSE, which you can see below.

MPPCB on inadequate AQI monitoring

To assess air quality monitoring in Madhya Pradesh, Ground Report spoke with Dr. Neeraj Verma, scientist and nodal officer of the National Clean Air Program at MPPCB. Dr. Verma shares,

"We operate air quality monitoring stations in 55 districts across Madhya Pradesh, using both manual and automatic systems. Cities are divided into four zones—residential, commercial, industrial, and sensitive areas like courts and schools—where stations are strategically placed."

“While some areas might fall outside our monitoring network, we strive for maximum coverage. We've collaborated with IIT Kanpur and a Pune institute to conduct comprehensive studies in Bhopal and Gwalior. These studies identified pollution hotspots requiring special attention.” He adds  that over 60% of air pollution stems from road dust.

However, on the station quality he points, "We haven't received reports of any malfunctions. We have annual maintenance contracts, ensuring regular inspections."

While Dr Verma also had few solutions to mitigate the bad air crisis, ”Under the National Clean Air Program, we've established 35 action points, and city-specific air pollution plans are now in place. Madhya Pradesh is making significant strides in pollution control."

Is the data authentic?

If seen on the CPCB website, three lists of Air Quality Monitoring Stations are available. All three lists represent different numbers. For example, if Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, is taken, then in one list dated 30 June 2023, the total number of manual monitoring stations in Bhopal is 8, in another list it is 6, while in the latest list dated 10 November, the total automatic monitoring stations in Bhopal are only three. Significantly, the most recent list of Bhopal does not have the name of the airport and the monitoring station of Govindpura, which is currently in operational condition.

According to a report of I.A.R.I. (Indian Agricultural Research Institute) recently, the incidents of stubble burning have increased alarmingly in Madhya Pradesh. Last Monday, 4th November, 506 cases of stubble burning were reported in the state, which is a big increase from 296 cases last year.

The selective enforcement of stubble-burning fines across states reveals a Delhi-centric approach to India's air pollution crisis. While northern states face stringent penalties, Madhya Pradesh remains exempt despite the alarming health impacts.

In its order dated November 7, 2024, the Commission for Air Quality Management authorised all Nodal and Supervisory Officers appointed by the respective governments in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and NCR areas of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to impose and collect Environmental Compensation from farmers causing air pollution through stubble burning, according to revised rates.

Recent studies indicate that air pollution could reduce the life expectancy of Madhya Pradesh residents by five years. Yet the state’s response remains inadequate, with limited monitoring and opaque data sharing. This raises important questions: Are we prioritising New Delhil’s air quality at the expense of other regions? Can India afford such regional disparities in addressing air pollution when lives across the country are at risk? 

Air pollution campaigners argue that the path forward for a clean air action plan must adopt a unified, nationwide approach to crop residue management—one that treats air pollution as a national emergency, not just a regional issue. It is time to acknowledge that the health and well-being of all citizens are interconnected, and addressing this crisis requires collective, coordinated action at every level of government and society.

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