JAIPUR, Nov. 12 -- Rajasthan has launched a month-long special environmental monitoring drive in six cities falling in the National Capital Region (NCR), covering air, water and soil quality, even as half of the 34 cities monitored in the state recorded lower Air Quality Index (AQI) levels on Diwali this year compared with last year. The Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RSPCB) is conducting the special exercise from November 2 to November 30 in Alwar, Bhiwadi, Khairthal, Bharatpur, Deeg and Kotputli in compliance with directions of the Supreme Court and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The exercise includes monitoring ambient air quality and collecting water, soil samples for testing to assess the overall environmental quality in these areas. Meanwhile, the board's Diwali monitoring data showed that 17 of the 34 cities recorded a decline in AQI on November 8 compared with last year. Dausa recorded the lowest AQI of 124, while Khairthal registered the highest at 362. Dausa recorded the sharpest improvement, with its AQI declining by 44.4%, followed by Bhilwara at 43.5%. RSPCB member secretary Kapil Chandrawal said the board was monitoring air quality round the clock through 50 continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations spread across 37 districts of the state. The board also conducted a comparative assessment of noise pollution at 58 locations across 25 districts....