Odisha has solidified its position as India's most polluted state, with three major cities recording Air Quality Index (AQI) readings above the severe 300 mark on Thursday, outpacing the national capital Delhi. Balasore emerged as the country's most polluted location with an AQI of 338 micrograms per cubic metre, closely followed by the industrial hub of Talcher at 320, both classified under the 'very poor' category that poses significant health risks.

Central Pollution Control Board figures further showed Baripada in Mayurbhanj district also exceeding 300, joining a short list of severely affected areas nationwide alongside Haldia, Rupnagar, and Visakhapatnam. Even the Twin Cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack logged 'poor' category readings of 239 and 260 respectively, remaining higher than Delhi's evening AQI of approximately 234, highlighting a broader air quality crisis across Odisha's urban landscape.

The trend of elevated pollution persisted from the previous day, when Angul and Talcher ranked among India's five worst-polluted spots with AQIs of 303 and 336. Notably, Balasore has consistently breached the 300 threshold on three occasions in the past week and six times throughout December, while Angul crossed the mark four times recently, with similar severe spikes observed in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack during November.

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Experts from the Odisha State Pollution Control Board point to winter's stagnant wind patterns as a primary factor trapping pollutants, exacerbated by ongoing sources such as vehicular emissions, construction dust, and open waste burning in towns like Balasore, Baripada, Bhubaneswar, and Cuttack. These localised contributors continue to overwhelm natural dispersion mechanisms during the cooler months.

To address the escalating issue, authorities have been advised to bolster enforcement through dedicated local task forces at the urban local body level, encourage greater community involvement in preventing waste burning, and introduce mobile apps for residents to report pollution violations promptly, enabling more effective and targeted interventions.

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