Jaipur, Nov. 24 -- In at least four cities of Rajasthan - Bhiwadi, Kota, Jaipur, and Tonk, the air quality index (AQI) crossed the red mark in the last three days placing themselves in 'very poor' category while nine other cities are also under the 'poor' category. The AQI data fetched from the Central Pollution Control Board website, showed that the RIICO industrial hub of Bhiwadi, which also comes under the NCR region, ranked worst with 373 on the AQI index on Sunday. The figure was 381 on Saturday and 388 on Friday. In Kota's Dhanmandi and Srinath Puram, the AQI also hit 304 and 333 respectively on Sunday. Dhanmandi's atmosphere ranked worse at 314 on Saturday and also on Friday with 315, showed data. However, Srinath Puram recorded 306 on Saturday and 260 on Friday. AQI was also hovering over the 'poor' to 'very poor' category in Jaipur's three areas in the last three days. The worst was in RIICO industrial hub in Sitapura with 294 on Sunday followed by 352 on Saturday, and 321 on Friday. Jaipur's Mansarovar Sector 12 and Shastri Nagar along with Tonk's Shastri Nagar area were also at similar vulnerable stages with AQI hovering over the 248 to 327 since Friday. In the last three days, the air quality also remained poor in Bharatpur, Bhilwara, Bikaner, Bundi, Dungarpur, Rajsamand, Sikar, and Sriganganagar. A senior officer from the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RSPCB), said, "The degradation of the air quality is majorly because of the early dip in temperature in the state ahead of winter, stagnant air movement, and western disturbance this year. The Bhiwadi industrial hub is also getting affected by the air pollution of Delhi following which GRAP II norms have been enacted here." He also said, "The department has also held a meeting with RIICO, transport, and agriculture departments to ensure proper implementation of GRAP II." Meanwhile, a second official from the department also said , "The department is regularly monitoring the AQI situation from their stations which also revealed that the degradation, in many prime cities, is being caused by road construction work that is underway close to the monitoring centres. However, road dust and vehicular emissions are always the big reasons for air pollution in the cities in Rajasthan." "With an objective to reduce 20-30% PM10 concentration by 2024, the RSPCB has taken a series of measures such as setting up continuous air quality monitoring stations, construction and demolition (C&D) waste collection centres, conducting an air quality assessment study collaborating with premium institutes of the state, and notifying a sound e-vehicle policy," said another official....