Malfunction sees Chembur record highest ever Air Quality Index

The Chembur unit of the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) malfunctioned on Tuesday, showing the Air Quality Index (AQI) of the area at 419 micrograms per cubic metre, the highest of all time.

The normal AQI reading is between 60 to 100 micrograms per cubic metre.According to experts, the AQI reading for Chembur shown on the SAFAR website was incorrect and misleading. “Due to a power supply problem in the area the unit got switched off and when the power came back the unit suddenly shot up, showing the AQI level at 419micrograms per cubic metre,” said Dr Gufran Beig, project director, SAFAR.

“A stabiliser is fitted in these units, in case of a power cut these stabilisers help keep these units stable. However, after the power cut the stabiliser also got switched off, so when the power came back the recording suddenly shot up,” he added. The SAFAR was developed by the Indian Institute of tropical Meteorology, Pune, in association with Regional Meteorological Centre, Mumbai.

“Waste management is a concern in our area, with Deonar dumping ground nearby. Once it reaches its full capacity, the garbage is burnt, adding to the already polluted atmosphere,” said Saumitra Kumar, a marketing professional and a resident of Chembur.