Assam: Guwahati Air Quality Worsens; Experts Question Accuracy of Government AQI Data
As concerns grow over the deteriorating air quality in Guwahati, Assam, a fresh debate has emerged regarding the accuracy of the official air pollution figures released by the government. Residents and environmental experts are increasingly skeptical that the limited number of air quality monitoring stations in the city can provide a true reflection of the air quality situation.
Current Air Quality Status
On December 4, 2025, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported Guwahati’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) at 109, categorizing it as ‘moderate.’ However, this average was derived from only three out of the city’s four Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring System (CAAQMS) stations. The monitoring stations in Guwahati include:
- Pollution Control Board Assam (PCBA) headquarters in Bamunimaidam
- Panbazar (Cotton University)
- Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport
- IIT Guwahati
For the past two days, the CPCB has published AQI readings that exclude data from the Bamunimaidam station, raising concerns about the reliability of the reported figures.
Independent Assessments of Air Quality
Independent air quality tracking platforms have reported significantly higher AQI levels than those published by the government. For instance, AQI.in recorded the city’s AQI reaching 178 around midnight and again near noon on December 4. The average AQI for November was reported at 119, which falls into the ‘poor’ category, while the average for December so far has been 167, categorized as ‘unhealthy.’
Global air quality tracker IQAir also reported Guwahati’s AQI at 133 at 4:30 PM on December 4, indicating that the air quality was ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups.’ The report highlighted that PM2.5 levels in the evening were nearly 9.7 times higher than the World Health Organization’s annual guideline.
The Need for More Monitoring Stations
Environmental experts argue that Guwahati urgently requires additional air quality monitoring stations, particularly in areas experiencing high pollution levels. They contend that the AQI released by government agencies does not accurately reflect air quality, especially around major construction zones, such as ongoing flyover projects.
According to official norms, the city should ideally have at least five CAAQMS stations, including:
- Two in residential areas
- One in a traffic-heavy zone
- One in a commercial area
- One in an industrial zone
In addition to these, manual monitoring sites should also be established to provide a comprehensive assessment of air quality across the city.
Expert Opinions
Professor Sharad Gokhale from IIT Guwahati’s Civil Engineering department emphasized the necessity for expanded monitoring. He pointed out that several traffic chokepoints, including the increasingly congested Jalukbari junction, should have dedicated air quality stations. He noted that the IIT Guwahati station, installed under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), primarily monitors surrounding rural areas and nearby industrial units, which may not adequately reflect urban pollution levels.
Recent Studies Highlighting Pollution Levels
A recent satellite-based assessment of PM2.5 levels conducted by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) underscores the severity of the air quality crisis in Assam. The study revealed that 11 districts in Assam ranked among the country’s 50 most polluted districts in 2024, and all 34 assessed districts in the state exceeded the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).
Conclusion
The worsening air quality in Guwahati poses significant health risks to its residents. The discrepancies between government-reported AQI figures and those from independent sources raise serious questions about the accuracy of the data being presented. Experts are calling for immediate action to enhance the air quality monitoring infrastructure in the city to ensure that the public is informed about the true state of air pollution. Without adequate monitoring, effective policy measures to combat air pollution cannot be developed.
Note: The information presented in this article is based on data available as of December 2025 and may be subject to change as new studies and reports are released.
