Gurgaon: None of Haryana’s monitored cities has met India’s annual PM10 standard every year since 2019, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data shared by Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).All 178 PM10 readings recorded across the state between Jan 1, 2019 and Oct 23, 2026, exceeded the annual limit of 60 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³). The lowest reading, 72.7 µg/m³ in Mandikhera in 2026, was still above the prescribed standard. Around 88% of the readings, or 156 entries, also crossed 100 µg/m³, the national 24-hour limit.“The fact that all cities in Haryana have exceeded the annual PM10 standard for five consecutive years points to a systemic pollution problem. Haryana needs a state-level mitigation strategy that tackles pollution sources across urban, peri-urban and rural areas, rather than relying primarily on city-specific action plans. The next phase of National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) must expand its coverage in Haryana, as Faridabad is currently the only city in Haryana included under the programme. A coordinated regional approach is essential to achieve consistent reductions in pollution,” said Manoj Kumar, air analyst, CREA.PM10 concentrations peaked in 2025. Across 22 cities with data for both 2024 and 2025, the average level rose from 119.9 µg/m³ to 175.2 µg/m³. Dharuhera recorded the highest annual concentration at 277.8 µg/m³, followed by Bahadurgarh at 263.9 µg/m³, Sonipat at 235.4 µg/m³, Panipat at 229.3 µg/m³ and Ballabgarh at 223.4 µg/m³. Six cities reported levels above 200 µg/m³ that year.The data indicate that particulate pollution has remained high across Haryana, though city-level trends vary. In Gurgaon, the annual PM10 average declined from 190.2 µg/m³ in 2019 to 148.4 µg/m³ in 2020. It then rose to 174.5 µg/m³ in 2021 and peaked at 196.7 µg/m³ in 2022. The level fell to 176 µg/m³ in 2023, increased to 185.6 µg/m³ in 2024 and declined again to 159.6 µg/m³ in 2025.Despite the fall in 2025, Gurgaon’s PM10 level remained more than 2.6 times the national annual standard. The city’s available average for 2026 stood at 164.9 µg/m³ till Oct 23.Other cities also showed sharp variations. Ballabgarh recorded 226.0 µg/m³ in 2019 and 223.4 µg/m³ in 2025. Panipat’s average declined from 187.3 µg/m³ in 2019 to 108.2 µg/m³ in 2024, before rising steeply to 229.3 µg/m³ in 2025. Sonipat recorded 155.5 µg/m³ in 2019, 125.5 µg/m³ in 2024 and 235.4 µg/m³ in 2025.The 2026 figures show that PM10 pollution remains elevated in several areas. Among the 24 cities with available data, Ballabgarh recorded the highest average at 195.1 µg/m³, followed by Gurgaon at 164.9 µg/m³, Panipat at 164.2 µg/m³ and Faridabad at 144.1 µg/m³. Sixteen of the 24 cities reported concentrations above 100 µg/m³.The 2026 data covers only the period till Oct 23 and cannot be directly compared with full-year averages. Nov and Dec, when pollution levels typically rise, are not included.The dataset also highlights gaps in Haryana’s air quality monitoring network. A note accompanying the data says that, except for Gurgaon and Panchgaon, the listed cities had less than 75% valid PM10 data because continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations were not operating. Rohtak and Panchgaon have data only from 2025.These monitoring gaps call for caution while interpreting year-on-year changes, including the sharp rise recorded in 2025. Incomplete data coverage can affect the comparability of readings and the assessment of long-term trends.
