New Delhi:
On Thursday, the day of Diwali, the air quality in Delhi was recorded in the ‘very poor’ category and due to burning of firecrackers at night, it is expected to reach the ‘severe’ category. When people in Delhi woke up on Thursday morning, they saw a thick blanket of smog in the sky. The air in Anand Vihar in the national capital was the most polluted and the Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded in the ‘severe’ category.
The city’s 24-hour average air quality index was recorded at 328 at 4 pm, down from 307 on Wednesday, when Chhoti Diwali was celebrated. According to Central Pollution Control Board data, on Diwali day 2023, the sky was clear and sunny. The base quality index was recorded at 218, while it was recorded at 312 in 2022, 382 in 2021, 414 in 2020, 337 in 2019, 281 in 2018, 319 in 2017, and 431 in 2016.
Last year, due to lower incidents of stubble burning, pre-Diwali rains and favorable weather conditions, the national capital was saved from turning into a “gas chamber” after the festival. According to the data, the level of PM2.5 pollutants was recorded at 145 micrograms per cubic meter at 3 p.m. PM2.5 are microscopic particles that can penetrate deep into the respiratory tract and cause health problems.
Like in the last four years, this year the government also announced a complete ban on the manufacture, storage, sale and use of firecrackers in Delhi. The air quality in Delhi’s neighboring districts like Ghaziabad, Gurugram, Greater Noida and Noida was slightly better and was recorded in the ‘poor’ category.
In contrast, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, the air quality in Faridabad remained in the ‘moderate’ category at 181. The air quality was recorded in the ‘very poor’ category in 38 out of 40 monitoring centers in Delhi. According to the scale set by the Meteorological Department, the Air Quality Index (AQI) falls between 0 to 50 “good”, 51 to 100 “satisfactory”, 101 to 200 “fair”, 201 to 300 “poor”, and 301 to 400 “very”. “Poor” and 401 to 500 are considered “severe.”
On the eve of Diwali, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai announced that 377 teams have been formed to enforce the ban on firecrackers in the national capital. He said that officials are in contact with resident welfare associations, market associations and social organizations to spread awareness.
Police teams were formed to ensure that firecrackers were not burned. An official said that legal action would be taken against those found lighting firecrackers. A case can also be registered against them under relevant sections of BNS (Indian Judicial Code) for violating government orders.
According to an analysis by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, pollution in the city reaches its peak from November 1 to 15, when incidents of stubble burning increase in Punjab and Haryana.
(Tags for translation)Air pollution in Delhi
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