MAPUSA
Raising the issue of “unhealthy” air quality levels in the State in the Legislative Assembly, Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao expressed concern over the deteriorating air quality in Goa’s urban centres and called for urgent and stringent corrective measures.
He cautioned that unless decisive action is taken, Goa risks following the path of heavily polluted cities such as Delhi.
Responding to the concerns, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant assured the House that the government is closely monitoring the situation. He said the Environment Department and the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) are jointly tracking air quality levels across the State and taking necessary steps to address pollution.
The Chief Minister added that the government is examining measures to reduce pollution levels and has taken serious note of AQI readings consistently remaining above 100.
Panaji, Porvorim, Mormugao and Bambolim recorded “Unhealthy” air quality levels during the first week of January 2026, triggering widespread concern over public health and pollution control in the State.
According to official data, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in these four major towns ranged between 163 and 178 during the period, placing them in the “Unhealthy” category.
While the trend in the current week has shown marginal improvement, AQI levels continue to remain in the “Poor” to “Moderate” range, with readings hovering at 100 and above.
Environmental experts warn that sustained AQI levels above 100 pose serious health risks, including respiratory ailments, heart diseases and the possibility of premature deaths, particularly among children, the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions.
