Ahmedabad: The city’s industrial belts are choking under a thick blanket of dust, with pollution levels hitting alarming highs. The city’s eastern industrial corridor tops Gujarat’s pollution charts, recording a PM10 concentration of 136.66 µg/m³ — more than double the permissible limit of 60 µg/m³, according to data from the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) data.
Bhavnagar follows with 119 µg/m³, while other industrial hotspots like Morbi (102.5), Kutch (97), and Vadodara (96.8) are also battling dangerously high pollution levels.
Even Bharuch, home to large-scale chemical industries, records 85 µg/m³, still well over the safe limit.
The steep rise in PM10 levels — fine dust particles generated from industrial emissions, vehicular pollution, and construction activity — raises serious health concerns. Prolonged exposure can lead to respiratory diseases, lung infections and cardiovascular issues, warn experts.
“There has been a significant rise in respiratory illnesses in the city, largely due to increasing PM10 and PM2.5 levels,” said Dr Tushar Patel, pulmonologist and critical care specialist. He noted that those frequently exposed to industrial emissions or vehicular fumes face a higher risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the long run.
“However, population-based studies are required to identify pockets where such issues are more acute. In winter months, the cases generally spike. Those who have existing conditions should wear masks if their surroundings have poor air quality index (AQI),” he said.
Experts and environmentalists point to unchecked construction work, poor dust control measures, and lack of green cover in industrial areas as key factors driving this crisis. “Construction activity is rampant, with constant digging for gas lines, optical fibre networks and other infrastructure projects in industrial as well as residential areas. The absence of tree cover means there is nothing to trap these fine dust particles, allowing pollution to spiral out of control,” explained Mahesh Pandya, environmental engineer and director of Paryavaran Mitra.
The situation is worsened by industries flouting pollution norms due to lax enforcement. “Authorities need to push for cleaner technologies, stricter emission controls and better waste management. Without immediate action, the rising pollution will take a severe toll on public health,” Pandya warned.
Ahmedabad’s industrial zones, particularly in the eastern part of the city, require urgent intervention, ranging from real-time air quality monitoring to stronger enforcement of environmental regulations. With many industrial hubs located near residential and commercial areas, unchecked pollution is turning into a direct threat to public health.