Belagavi (Belgaum) Air Quality Index (AQI) & Air Pollution Today

Karnataka, India — Real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) and PM2.5

Belagavi AQI Right Now

104

Category: Moderate

Dominant Pollutant: pm25

PM2.5: 60.88 µg/m³

PM10: 93.03 µg/m³

Last updated: 2026-03-24 — Data source: Google Air Quality API (NAQI). Live NAQI values load when you visit the page.

Belagavi Pollutant Levels

PollutantConcentration
PM2.560.88 µg/m³
PM1093.03 µg/m³
O₃ (Ozone)49.7 µg/m³
NO₂17.16 µg/m³
SO₂4.83 µg/m³
CO520.86 µg/m³

Health Advisory — Belagavi

Moderate: Breathing discomfort to people with lungs, asthma and heart diseases.

Health Impact — Belagavi

Cigarette Equivalent: Breathing this air is equivalent to smoking 2.8 cigarettes per day (based on current PM2.5 levels).

Life Expectancy Impact: Sustained exposure at this PM2.5 level could reduce life expectancy by 0.33 years (AQLI estimate, relative to WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³).

Health Recommendations for Belagavi

  • General Population: People with respiratory or heart conditions should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.
  • Elderly: Reduce prolonged outdoor activities.
  • Children: Reduce prolonged outdoor play.
  • Lung Disease Patients: Avoid prolonged outdoor exertion.

Understanding Belagavi Air Quality

Belagavi (formerly Belgaum), perched at approximately 750 metres elevation near the Maharashtra–Karnataka–Goa tri-junction, is a linguistically diverse border city with a significant military presence and a thriving sugar industry. The city hosts one of India's largest military cantonments - the Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre - along with numerous sugar mills processing cane from the surrounding Krishna River basin. Sugar mill bagasse burning, molasses processing fumes, and the diesel-heavy military vehicle fleet create a distinctive pollution mix unlike typical Indian cities.

Winter months (November–February) see the worst air quality, though Belagavi's moderate elevation prevents the severe inversions experienced by low-lying northern Indian cities. PM2.5 levels can reach the Poor category during still December mornings, driven by vehicular emissions from the congested old-city roads, sugar mill operations at peak crushing season (November–April), and waste burning in peripheral areas. The city's rapid growth - fuelled by pharmaceutical and IT investments - has added construction dust as an increasingly significant source.

The southwest monsoon (June–September) brings heavy rainfall of 1,200–1,500mm, thoroughly cleansing the atmosphere and keeping AQI in the Good range for extended periods. Belagavi's position on the windward side of the Western Ghats ensures robust monsoon coverage. The moderate elevation and decent rainfall give Belagavi notably better air quality than Deccan Plateau cities further east. Post-monsoon months see a brief transition before winter patterns set in. As a legislative capital of Karnataka (hosting winter sessions of the state assembly), the city sees periodic surges in VIP convoy traffic during session months.

Primary Pollution Sources

  • Vehicle exhaust
  • Sugar mill emissions
  • Construction dust
  • Road dust
  • Waste burning
  • Military cantonment emissions

Geography: Maharashtra-Karnataka-Goa tri-junction on Deccan Plateau; military cantonment, sugar-producing belt, moderate elevation (~750m)

Peak pollution months: November, December, January, February

Frequently Asked Questions — Belagavi

How does the sugar industry affect Belagavi's air quality?

Belagavi district is one of Karnataka's largest sugar-producing regions, with multiple sugar mills operating during the October–April crushing season. These mills burn bagasse (sugarcane residue) as fuel, releasing fly ash and fine particulates. Molasses processing and ethanol distillation add chemical vapours. During peak season, downwind areas from mills can experience elevated PM10 and occasional sulphurous odours, particularly during low-wind winter evenings.

Why is Belagavi's air quality better than most Indian cities of its size?

Belagavi benefits from three natural advantages: moderate elevation (~750m) that promotes better atmospheric mixing, heavy monsoon rainfall (1,200–1,500mm) that cleanses the atmosphere for nearly four months, and proximity to the Western Ghats that channels moisture-laden winds through the city. These geographic factors keep annual average AQI well below comparable-sized cities on the flat plains of northern India.

Air Quality in Nearby Cities