MAPUSA
The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) on Monday rejected claims by some independent agencies that the State’s air quality has deteriorated to “poor” levels, asserting that official data shows ambient air quality to be largely good to satisfactory across most locations in Goa.
Citing air quality monitoring data collected over a one-year period from January 2025 to December 2025, the Board stated that air quality remained within acceptable limits at the majority of monitoring stations, barring a few pockets.
“Based on continuous monitoring carried out over the last year, ambient air quality in Goa is generally good and in some pockets satisfactory,” said, Sanjeev Joglekar, a senior GSPCB official.
According to the GSPCB, out of 18 ambient air quality monitoring stations established across the State in accordance with Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) specifications, only four locations – Vasco, Baina, Ponda and Kundaim – recorded air quality levels that were comparatively higher.
“At all other locations, the AQI ranged from good to satisfactory,” the Board clarified.
Joglekar said that the primary sources contributing to increased pollution levels were road digging, construction activities and vehicular traffic, rather than industrial emissions.
“The pollutants are mainly generated due to localised activities such as road works, construction and vehicular movement. These are temporary in nature and can be mitigated with proper control measures,” he said.
GSPCB Chairman Levinson Martins (IAS) said that apart from the 18 fixed stations where real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) is being monitored, the Board has two mobile air quality monitoring vans to assess pollution levels at specific locations if required.
“We are open to monitoring any site which requires special attention. We have the equipment, and we can do it whenever there is a concern,” Martins said.
Responding to concerns over dust pollution at the ongoing elevated corridor construction in Porvorim, Martins said the contractor has been strictly instructed to follow dust-suppression measures.
“They are required to sprinkle water to suppress dust, not pour water on roads and make them slippery. We have made this very clear to the contractor,” he said.
The clarification comes in the wake of a report by a private agency which claimed that AQI levels in Porvorim and parts of Panaji had fallen to ‘poor’ category, sparking public concern and debate over deteriorating air quality in urban pockets of Goa.
GSPCB officials, however, maintained that official CPCB-compliant data does not support those conclusions, while assuring continued monitoring and enforcement wherever necessary.
