Citizens and government must do utmost to ensure that air remains free from pollution
Goa was once considered as a paradise on earth, until its nature was directly attacked by various factors thus irreparably damaging the region’s ecology. Harmful pollutants such as excessive dirt, chemicals and different gases slowly got mixed with the clean air making breathing difficult. Today many of the Goan areas, especially urban locations, are getting so contaminated that the state could soon be competing with the national capital, New Delhi to gain the dubious distinction of being the most polluted place in the country.
Presently, the overall air quality of Delhi continues to be in the ‘poor’ category and is likely to worsen soon to the ‘very poor’ category, as per the official sources. In fact, more than 2 lakh cases of acute respiratory illnesses were recorded in six state-run hospitals in Delhi between 2022 and 2024, as the Indian capital struggled with rising pollution levels. Toxic air is a recurring problem in Delhi and its suburbs, especially during winters. The same problem is now threatening Goa with dire consequences.
The air quality in the capital city of Panaji or its suburb, Porvorim has deteriorated to such a level that breathing the air in these places can be equated to smoking 3.2 cigarettes per day, or 22 cigarettes a month, as per news reports. The result is same as the nicotine in tobacco rapidly entering the bloodstream via lungs. The sheer concentration of PM2.5 – referring to fine particulate matter in the air – with particles 2.5 micrometres or smaller in diameter, poses a serious health risk as they can penetrate deep into lungs and enter the bloodstream, causing respiratory and cardiovascular issues like heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, and asthma.
As against the annual safe limit of 5 micrograms per cubic metre set by the World Health Organisation (WHO), Panaji’s current average PM2.5 level is a staggering 88 micrograms per cubic metre, nearly 18 times the recommended guideline. The capital city is today placed at the 321st rank among the world’s most polluted cities. Its annual Air Quality Index for 2025 worsened by 84.3 per cent as compared to five years ago, thus rising from 21 in 2020 to 90 in 2025.
The deterioration in air quality is now slowly spreading to other parts of the state, with doctors stating that several other urban and semi-urban parts of Goa are also showing worrying trends due to intensified construction, rising vehicle density, industrial pockets and cooler temperatures. These health professionals maintained that vulnerable groups including children, elderly people, pregnant women and people with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or heart disease, are increasingly at risk.
Fortunately the latest air quality assessment by the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) for the month of November, like light at the end of the tunnel, shows that air quality across the state has remained within the ‘good’ to ‘satisfactory’ range. The findings are based on real-time and manual monitoring conducted between November 19 and November 27 across residential, commercial, mining and industrial areas. As per the officials, favourable weather, reduced dust re-suspension and compliance checks have contributed to the stable air quality.
Finally it is the responsibility of every citizen and not just the authorities to ensure that air remains free from any pollution. Every individual can contribute towards this task by avoiding burning of waste, reducing car use, conserving electricity and so on. Today, a common man has to fight at various levels to ensure him satisfactory existence. The additional fight for breath would make his life really miserable!
