🔗 Share this article

On Tuesday morning residents of this heavily contaminated metropolis were faced with inhaling extremely polluted air that was classified as the "critical" range.

Alarming Pollution Measurements

Several parts of the capital showed an AQI above 500, which translates to 10x the recommended limit set by the WHO.

Certain monitoring stations, concentrations of toxic particulate matter reached peaks of 1800, representing 15 to 20 times higher than acceptable standards.

Pyrotechnics Prohibition and Recent Policy Shifts

For the past four years, the government had implemented a complete ban on the distribution and bursting of firecrackers during Diwali due to their substantial impact to the hazardous smog that covers the city as the cold season approaches.

Nevertheless in recent months, the recently formed local leadership approached the supreme court to seek a easing of the restrictions.

The suggestion was allowing "green crackers" – previously questioned by environmental experts as being only approximately one-third less polluting – as a compromise between "heritage and public health".

Judicial Verdict and Reality

To the disappointment of environmental and health activists, judicial authorities complied with the appeal, mandating that green firecrackers could be ignited during designated periods throughout the celebrations.

Throughout the festival evening, there was extensive violation of the time restrictions across the city, with minimal monitoring regarding whether the fireworks being used were actually the supposedly greener version.

Several recording stations throughout Delhi showed contamination spiking around the night hours to extremely hazardous levels observed during the festival in at least recent memory.

Cross-Border Implications

Extensive ignition of firecrackers during the celebrations also sparked a controversy with bordering Pakistan, with representatives in Pakistani the Punjab region partly blaming deteriorating atmospheric conditions in Lahore on hazardous particles traveling from India following the festivities.

Persistent Environmental Issue

Alarmingly severe readings of atmospheric toxins in the city have remained as a significant challenge for over a decade and a half, with the situation continuing to worsen.

During Diwali, the amount of dangerous airborne contaminants in the environment has been documented to increase dramatically to significantly exceeding the worst records ever measured in Beijing, which was previously considered as the planet's dirtiest metropolis.

Multiple Contamination Contributors

The situation in the capital is caused by a mix of multiple factors including transportation pollution, construction debris, development work, waste incineration and pollutants from farm burning in nearby states of neighboring agricultural zones.

Within these states, farmers regularly ignite agricultural waste to prepare for next season, creating toxic haze that remains stagnant over the city as winter air sets in.

Public Health and Economic Impact

The economic and health consequences on the nearly 33 million inhabitants living in the metropolitan zone is significant, according to multiple investigations.

This pollution causes elevated rates of neurological, cardiovascular and lung disorders, and can result in malignancies.

Air quality crisis is projected to be responsible for ten thousand premature deaths annually in Delhi.