India: Delhi air quality hits severe level after Diwali as firecracker ban is defied
Severe pollution after Diwali
Residents of Delhi and surrounding areas woke to dense smoke and fine particles after fireworks lit the sky on Sunday night. Several locations across the National Capital Region reported air quality in the severe category, which poses significant health risks.
Smog covered roads and high-rises, limiting visibility. Reports said pollution in parts of the region exceeded the World Health Organization’s recommended 24-hour average by more than 50 times on Monday.
PM2.5 readings soar
Data cited by IQair from a government monitoring station showed PM2.5 levels at 879 micrograms per cubic meter in central Delhi’s Mandir Marg area early Monday. That is nearly 59 times the WHO daily limit of 15 micrograms per cubic meter.
Fine particles and soot from fireworks added to pollution already associated with vehicle emissions, crop-residue fires in neighboring states and industrial activity. Delhi regularly faces winter smog, and millions celebrate Diwali during this polluted season.
Firecracker restrictions ignored
India’s Supreme Court had restricted conventional firecrackers last month, permitting only green firecrackers during set three-hour periods on Saturday and Sunday. The restrictions were widely disregarded during Diwali celebrations.
Green firecrackers are designed to create less air and noise pollution, but still produce 65 to 70% of the pollution from conventional firecrackers. Other winter measures in Delhi, including vehicle restrictions and construction bans, began on November 1.
Long-term fixes remain elusive
Air pollution remains a difficult problem for successive Delhi governments, which have blamed one another for failing to address it. A lasting solution to the capital’s pollution crisis has yet to emerge.
The festival emissions have added to a seasonal problem that recurs each winter. Delhi is among the world’s most polluted capital cities.
Key points
- Delhi and nearby areas reported severe air quality after Diwali fireworks.
- Mandir Marg’s PM2.5 reading reached 879 micrograms per cubic meter early Monday.
- That reading was nearly 59 times the WHO daily limit.
- Restrictions allowed green firecrackers during limited time periods, but the ban was widely ignored.