2.2.1. Baseline air quality statusBaseline air quality was monitored at 25 locations (Annexure 2 and Fig. 2) within the region on 24-h duration basis, the average samples of particulate matters (PM10 and PM2.5) and gaseous pollutants (SO2 andNO2) are presented in Table 1 following the latest National Ambient AirQuality Standard (NAAQS), 2009 (Annexure 3) formulated by theCentral Pollution Control Board, New Delhi, India (CPCB, 2009). Airsampling has been carried out 8 times at each site during 7th to 22ndDecember 2015 and 30th January to 16th February 2016 representingwinter season.