Leh AQI Discrepancy Emerges As LG Claims Clean Air While CPCB Records 124

A significant difference has emerged regarding Leh’s air quality after Ladakh Lieutenant Governor <b>Vinai Kumar Saxena</b> claimed the Air Quality Index ranged between 1 and 25. In contrast, the Central Pollution Control Board recorded an AQI of 124 for the Himalayan town on Monday. An official at the Lieutenant Governor's office acknowledged that readings can fluctuate and noted that Ladakh currently lacks a single Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station. This absence of ground-based monitoring infrastructure makes independent verification of the exceptionally low readings difficult. The CPCB's reading places Leh in the moderate category, highlighting concerns over the availability of reliable real-time data. Officials emphasized the importance of accurate monitoring in the ecologically fragile region, particularly as it is increasingly promoted for winter tourism.