Hundreds of people burst firecrackers relentlessly in Delhi on Diwali, defying a ban on their use as the air quality in several parts of the national capital was recorded at the higher end of 'very poor' category and inched closer to 'severe' levels.
At 9 pm on Thursday, Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 327. Several areas, including Lajpat Nagar, Kalkaji, Chhatarpur, Jaunapur, East of Kailash, Saket, Rohini, Dwarka, Punjabi Bagh, Vikaspuri, Dilshad Garden, Burari and many other neighbourhoods of east and west Delhi saw firecrackers being burst.
In many areas like Burari Crossing (385), Jahangirpuri (377), RK Puram (385), Rohini (374), Ashok Vihar (374), Dwarka Sector 8 (367), IGI Airport (368), Wazirpur (377), Punjabi Bagh (383), Pusa (374), Siri Fort (361) and Sonia Vihar (377) saw the air quality in the higher end of the 'very poor' category and were at risk of reaching the 'severe' category.
An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', 401 and 450 'severe' and above 450 'severe plus'.
On October 14, the Delhi government imposed a ban on the production, storage, sale, and use of firecrackers across the city, effective until January 1, 2025.
On Diwali morning, Delhiites woke up to a thick layer of smog blanketing the national capital as the air quality was in the 'very poor' category with a recorded AQI of 328 at 4 pm. This was the worst air quality recorded in Diwali in the past three years.
Several pollution measuring stations reported PM2.5 levels up to 900 micrograms per cubic metre.
At 8 pm, stations such as RK Puram and Jahangirpuri recorded massive pollution levels, however, the data transmission abruptly halted after 9 pm. Meanwhile, Nehru Nagar, Patparganj, Ashok Vihar, and Okhla continued to display PM2.5 concentrations between 850-900 micrograms per cubic metre at 10 pm, alarmingly above the stipulated safety threshold of 60 micrograms per cubic metre.
In other parts of the city, Wazirpur, Pusa, and Vivek Vihar registered pollution levels of 603, 601, and 677 micrograms per cubic metre, respectively, marking more than 11 times the standard limit. Similarly, Dwarka and Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium recorded almost 500 micrograms per cubic metre, exceeding the safe level by more than eight times.
PM2.5 is a fine particulate matter capable of penetrating deep into the respiratory system and triggering health problems, whereas PM10 is a particulate matter that is 10 micrometres or less in diameter. These tiny solid or liquid particles suspended in the air can be inhaled into the lungs.
Last year, Delhiites enjoyed a clearer sky and abundant sunshine on Diwali, with an AQI of 218, compared to 312 in 2022, 382 in 2021, 414 in 2020, 337 in 2019, 281 in 2018, 319 in 2017 and 431 in 2016, according to the (Central Pollution Control Board).
In Delhi's neighbouring areas, such as Faridabad, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram and Noida, the air quality was slightly better, with all of them falling in the 'poor' category on Thursday.
On Diwali eve, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai announced that 377 teams were formed to enforce the ban on firecrackers across the national capital. He said authorities were in touch with resident welfare associations, market associations and social organisations to spread awareness.
Police teams were also formed to ensure that firecrackers were not burst.
"Legal action will be taken against those found bursting crackers. They may also be booked under the relevant sections of the BNS (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita) for violating government orders," an officer had said.
Unfavourable meteorological conditions, combined with vehicular emissions, paddy-straw burning, firecrackers and other local pollution sources, contribute to hazardous air quality levels in Delhi-NCR during winters.
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