Residents of India’s capital, Delhi, awoke to smoky skies on Monday as air quality plummeted following the celebration of Diwali. Despite a ban on fireworks due to high pollution levels, people in the city defied restrictions and burst crackers late into Sunday night.
Delhi has been grappling with toxic air for weeks, prompting the government to declare an early winter break for schools in a bid to safeguard children. The city experiences high pollution levels throughout the year, driven by factors such as vehicular emissions and dust. However, the situation exacerbates during winter as farmers in neighbouring states burn crop stubble. Additionally, low wind speeds trap pollutants, including those from firecrackers, in the lower atmosphere, creating challenging breathing conditions.
On Monday morning, the Air Quality Index (AQI) across 37 monitoring stations in Delhi, as reported by the Sameer app, exceeded 200, with several locations recording readings surpassing 350. The AQI measures PM 2.5 levels, fine particulate matter that poses health risks, including respiratory issues.
The AQI in Delhi currently stands 13-20 times higher than the World Health Organization’s recommended level. Lung specialists caution that breathing the capital’s toxic air is comparable to smoking 25-30 cigarettes daily. AQI levels between 101 and 200 are considered moderate, 201-300 is poor, anything beyond 300 is “very poor,” and a figure exceeding 500 is deemed “severe.”
Prolonged exposure to heightened pollution levels can lead to discomfort, breathing difficulties, and various health issues, including skin and eye irritation, neurological, cardiovascular, and respiratory diseases.
Despite India’s Supreme Court banning the use of firecrackers during Diwali and allowing only “green crackers” with reduced emissions, enforcement remains lax. Delhi’s government has also imposed a firecracker ban during Diwali in recent years, but adherence to the rule remains a challenge.
The ban on fireworks has sparked political controversy, with some viewing it as an attempt to target Hindu festivals. On Monday, Delhi’s environment minister, Gopal Rai, accused leaders from the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of “inciting” people to light firecrackers, contributing to increased pollution levels. BJP leaders have yet to officially respond to these allegations.
The poor air quality on Monday follows a temporary respite over the weekend due to rains on Friday morning that led to a decline in pollution levels in Delhi.
Kiki Garba
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