Patiala, November 13 - In Punjab this year, the average air quality index (AQI) on Diwali night has decreased by 7.6 percent compared to last year 2022 and 22.8 percent compared to 2021. In this regard, in a statement issued by Environment Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hare, it was said that in order to improve the air quality as per the guidelines of the Chief Minister, the Punjab Pollution Control Board has conducted real time monitoring of air quality in six cities of Punjab, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Khanna. , have set up Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) at Mandi Gobindgarh and Patiala. It is to be noted that the AQI recorded during Diwali days in the last two years 2022 and 2021. A significant improvement has been observed in the air quality index during the same period of the year 2023 as compared to the value. These figures are from 7.00 am on the day of Diwali to 6.00 am the day after Diwali. Environment Minister further informed that AQI will be conducted in five cities of Punjab, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Khanna, Mandi Gobindgarh and Patiala during Diwali this year. The level has been recorded lower compared to the same period of the previous two years 2022 and 2021. AQI of Punjab on this Diwali. 207 (which is slightly above the maximum AQI value of 200 for the medium category) while the value was recorded at 224 in 2022 and 268 in 2021. Meet Hare said that this year the highest A.Q.I. Value recorded in Amritsar (235). Last year also the highest A.Q.I. The value was recorded in Amritsar (262). Similarly, in the year 2021, the highest A.Q.I. value was recorded in Jalandhar 327 (very poor)]. This year the lowest A.Q.I. The value is recorded in Mandi Gobindgarh (153) which was recorded as 188 and 220 in the last two years 2022 and 2021 respectively. This year A.Q.I. The highest decrease in value was recorded in Mandi Gobindgarh (18.6 per cent). The Punjab Pollution Control Board has thanked the people for using green firecrackers to celebrate the festival of Diwali and the deadline set by the state government for bursting firecrackers, which has resulted in a significant improvement in air quality compared to the previous years 2022 and 2021.