Is This Delhi’s Most Polluted Diwali In Three Years?
New Delhi: As the country lit up with Diwali celebrations last night, a glimpse over Delhi revealed a thick layer of haze and smog. As the national capital’s air quality index (AQI) plunged further to 362, as of 10:30 am today, the Delhi sky lit up as people defied the ban on fireworks. The air quality continued to remain in the ‘very poor’ category a day after Diwali celebrations.
RK Puram recorded the worst air quality with an AQI of 398 in the ‘very poor’ category, followed by Sonia Vihar, Anand Vihar, and Burari. All crossed the 395 mark.
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Several reports emerged of a widespread violation of the ban on firecrackers, particularly across East and West Delhi. Compared to last year, when Delhites experienced a clearer sky with an AQI of 261, this year’s Diwali festivities worsened the air quality and raised the noise pollution levels.
To control the air pollution crisis in the city, the Delhi government had imposed a ban on crackers for the fifth consecutive year, prohibiting their manufacture, storage, sale, and use. Despite the ban, Delhites openly flouted the restrictions, especially in areas such as Jaunapur, Punjabi Bagh, Burari, and East of Kailash.
The AQI worsened this year, making this Diwali the most polluted in the past three years. Delhi recorded an AQI of 218 in 2023 and 312 in 2022, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
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According to the Delhi Fire Services, there was a hike in fire-related calls this festive season, with over 300 incidents reported across the national capital, the highest in the last 13 years.
Every year, the national capital struggles with the toxic air around Diwali. Despite the government banning bursting of firecrackers since 2017, they are openly sold in stores across the city. On October 30, the Delhi Police seized approximately 19,005 kg of firecrackers and registered over 79 complaints related to the sale and storage of firecrackers in a bid to curb pollution ahead of Diwali.
