‘Very poor’ air quality drives up sale of anti-pollution plants in Noida

Even after the cracker ban, NCR noticed top levels of air pollution and a thick layer of smog on day after today. And the air high quality does not seem to be making improvements to, with Noida registering a dangerously top Air Quality Index of 367 just lately. So Noidawallahs have taken it upon themselves to give protection to their hearts and lungs from pollution. And it's not air purifiers or masks that they have got selected, the sale of anti-pollution crops has long past up by way of 40-60%. The sale of indoor crops that free up oxygen even at evening - colloquially known as anti-pollution crops - has higher in the town since Diwali. Ramesh Tiwari, who owns a nursery in Sec 62, says, "Plants are the best source of combating pollution and keeping our environment clean."

Chlorophytum (BCCL/ Nishad Alam)

Tiwari provides, "We can very well call every plant an anti-pollution plant, but there are a lot of plants that have properties to tackle pollution. They keep one healthy, too." The hottest anti-pollution crops are sansiviera or snake plant, syngonium, peace lily, spider plant, aloe vera, areca plant and money plant.

The Air Quality Index of Noida final week was once handiest 2nd worst after Ghaziabad

Most anti-pollution crops are pocket-friendly, adding to their popularity
Noidawallahs are aware of the pollution-curbing qualities of these crops and the sale has handiest higher after Diwali. Manju Grover, general secretary, Floriculture Society, "People are now aware of anti-pollution plants, and another aspect that makes these plants popular is that they are quite pocket-friendly. You can get one such plant for only `50-100. In our annual flower show, which was organised earlier this year, our theme was anti-pollution plants. Visitors would enquire about these plants and take them home. Pollution levels have only risen since then and so we are again planning to centre our exhibition around anti-pollution plants. Also, since winters are fast approaching, the sale of anti-pollution plants has gone up significantly."

Snake plant (BCCL/ Nishad Alam)

Corporates' thumbs-up to anti-pollution crops
Rakesh Saini, former president of the Indian Nurserymen Association, who owns a nursery, says that the sale of anti-pollution crops by way of retail companies (which home deliver crops) is increasing. Many corporate offices are purchasing those crops in bulk to stay their workspaces clean and inexperienced. "Corporate offices are taking keen interest in these plants and are buying them in bulk. We get wholesale orders from many corporates who are ready to spend a good amount on anti-pollution plants like areca palm and snake plant. The demand is definitely going up by the day and the sale has increased by over 60%."

Garima Ahuja, a resident of Sector 12 Noida, says, "I didn't burst crackers this Diwali because the pollution levels are way too high. There is a think blanket of smog in the air in the morning. My father loves plants and greenery and he told me about keeping anti-pollution plants, which I think is a great idea. I went to the nearby nursery a few days ago and brought about five saplings of two areca palms, syngonium, snake plant and aloe vera to keep inside and outside my house so that it emits oxygen and we breathe fresh air."

Chlorophytum (BCCL/ Nishad Alam)

(BCCL/ Ajay Kumar Gautam )

Marble King (BCCL/ Nishad Alam)