Gurgaon: Four cities recorded the highest particulate pollution levels in Haryana between 2024 and early 2026, while ammonia (NH3) concentrations showed a rising trend and breached national standards at select locations.A new report by Respirer Living Sciences said that the southern belt — comprising Gurgaon, Faridabad, Bahadurgarh and Manesar — consistently recorded the highest particulate concentrations in Haryana.The report analysed air quality data from 31 monitoring stations across the state. Founder and CEO of Respirer Living Sciences Ronak Sutaria says that NH3-driven secondary PM formation is “not a marginal contributor but a seasonally dominant pathway for PM2.5 in Haryana”.According to the analysis, annual PM2.5 concentrations in Haryana ranged between 62.51 µg/m³ and 77.38 µg/m³ during 2024-26, nearly double India’s annual standard of 40 µg/m³. PM10 levels ranged from 123.44 µg/m³ to 141.68 µg/m³, more than twice the national annual limit of 60 µg/m³.Statewide average ammonia concentrations rose from 35.75 µg/m³ in 2024 to 38.63 µg/m³ in 2025, marking an increase of 8.06%, the report said. The report recommended setting up a pilot real-time ammonia monitoring network in Haryana with sensors in both urban pollution hotspots and livestock-dense rural districts. Proposed urban locations include Gurgaon, Faridabad and Sonipat, while rural districts include Hisar, Sirsa and Jind.The study used datasets from Haryana State Pollution Control Board’s Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) network, India Meteorological Department (IMD), IITM Pune, World Bank South Asia Air Quality Report, the 20th Livestock Census 2019 and the Haryana govt’s Integrated Sample Survey Report 2022-23.Researchers found that while the state’s annual NH3 average remained below the national threshold of 100 µg/m³, two monitoring stations breached the limit. Teri Gram in Gurgaon recorded an annual average ammonia concentration of 107.02 µg/m³ in 2024, while Sector 51 Gurgaon recorded 138.30 µg/m³ in 2025.The study also identified daily ammonia exceedances at Sector 51 Gurgaon in March 2025. NH3 concentrations crossed the 24-hour national limit of 400 µg/m³ for three consecutive days, touching 409.21 µg/m³ on March 5, 410.20 µg/m³ on March 6 and 411.82 µg/m³ on March 7.Among PM2.5 hotspots in 2026, Sector 51 Gurgaon topped the list with an annual average concentration of 158.59 µg/m³, followed by Vikas Sadan Gurgaon at 142.55 µg/m³ and Sector-11 Faridabad at 129.12 µg/m³. For PM10, Nathu Colony Ballabgarh recorded the highest annual average at 270.08 µg/m³, followed by Sector 51 Gurgaon at 242.14 µg/m³.Cross-correlation analysis in the study showed ammonia had a low-to-moderate positive correlation with PM2.5 and PM10 during winter and early spring months, particularly between Jan and April, when atmospheric conditions favour formation of secondary aerosols. The correlation weakened sharply during monsoon months. Sutaria said, “The correlation weakens sharply during monsoon months (July-Sept), likely due to wet deposition and increased atmospheric mixing.”The report — “Trends in NH3, PM2.5 and PM10 in Haryana: Recommendations for a Pilot-scale Real-time, Source-specific Ammonia Monitoring Network” — warned that ammonia, largely linked to agriculture residue burning and livestock activity, is emerging as a “key driver” of secondary particulate pollution in the state, an issue researchers say largely remained outside mainstream air pollution control planning.The findings are significant because Haryana’s pollution mitigation efforts have traditionally focused on direct emissions from vehicles, industries and dust, while ammonia-driven secondary particulate matter formation has received relatively little policy attention despite its major contribution to PM2.5 levels.According to the report, World Bank assessments estimate that nearly 30-40% of PM2.5 affecting Haryana comprises secondary particulate matter formed when ammonia from fertilisers, livestock waste and agricultural activities reacts with sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emitted from transport and industries.Researchers said the lack of real-time ammonia monitoring means policymakers currently do not have source-specific data to design interventions such as improved manure management, better fertiliser application practices or targeted agricultural controls in pollution hotspots.
