THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
Goa’s ambient air quality remained predominantly in the "good" and "satisfactory" categories during 2025-26, but annual PM10 concentrations exceeded the prescribed national standard at several locations, including the capital city Panaji, apart from industrial areas and Port town, indicating a growing concern over particulate pollution in the State.
As per the Goa State Pollution Control Board's (GSPCB) Ambient Air Quality Report for 2025-26 placed before the Board, monitoring carried out from April 2025 to March 2026 showed that while daily air quality largely remained within permissible limits, annual average PM10 levels were marginally above the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) of 60 µg/m³ at several locations.
The affected stations include Panaji (61 µg/m³), Mapusa (65), Baina (73), Vasco (72), Ponda (61), Bicholim (75), Curchorem (61), Tilamol (68), Cuncolim Industrial Estate (66) and Kundaim Industrial Estate (64). Bicholim, where the iron ore mining has resumed, recorded the highest annual PM10 concentration among all 18 monitoring stations.
The GSPCB attributed the higher PM10 concentrations primarily to vehicular movement, construction activities, road excavation and digging works, and the resulting dust generation.
The report also noted that the Air Quality Index (AQI) at Cuncolim Industrial Estate, Tuem Industrial Estate, Bicholim, Vasco, Baina and Kundaim Industrial Estate occasionally deteriorated from the "Satisfactory" category to "Moderate" during the year.
A comparison of annual average PM10 data for 2024-25 and 2025-26 revealed an overall drop across the State, although Vasco, Ponda and Bicholim recorded variations in the trend.
The Board currently operates 18 Ambient Air Quality Monitoring (AAQM) stations across residential, commercial, mining and industrial areas of Goa under the Central Pollution Control Board-sponsored National Air Monitoring Programme. Monitoring at 16 stations has been outsourced to MoEF&CC-recognised laboratories, while two stations are monitored by the Board's staff.
The report stated that the monitoring data is regularly shared with the Department of Environment and Climate Change and other stakeholders for implementation of the State Action Plan for Clean Air to address pollution hotspots and improve air quality.
