🔗 Share this article

On Tuesday morning residents of the planet's dirtiest urban center encountered inhaling extremely polluted air that was classified as the "critical" level.

Extremely High Air Quality Levels

Various sections of the city registered an AQI exceeding 500, which translates to 10x the recommended level established by the WHO.

Certain monitoring stations, readings of toxic particulate matter soared to of 1800, representing 15-20x exceeding safe levels.

Pyrotechnics Restrictions and Recent Policy Shifts

For the past four years, authorities had enforced a complete ban on the distribution and bursting of firecrackers during Diwali due to their major role to the deadly haze that engulfs the capital as the cold season sets in.

However in recent months, the current city leadership approached the supreme court to propose a relaxation of the ban.

They proposed allowing "green crackers" – which have been criticized by environmentalists as being only about 30% lower impact – as a compromise between "tradition and environment".

Court Ruling and Reality

Despite concerns of public health and environmental advocates, judges complied with the request, specifying that green firecrackers could be ignited during limited periods throughout the Diwali.

Throughout the festival evening, there was widespread disregard of the regulated periods across the capital, with insufficient monitoring regarding whether the firecrackers being used were actually the more environmentally friendly version.

Several recording stations throughout Delhi showed pollution spiking around the night hours to some of the worst measurements observed during Diwali in at least the past three years.

Regional Implications

The proliferation of fireworks during the festival also initiated a controversy with adjacent the neighboring country, with representatives in Pakistan's Punjab partly blaming worsening pollution levels in Lahore on contaminants originating in across the border following the celebrations.

Long-Standing Environmental Issue

Alarmingly severe readings of air contamination in Delhi have remained as a serious challenge for over a decade and a half, with the condition showing no improvement.

Around the festival period, the amount of toxic particles in the air has been documented to increase dramatically to 70% higher the worst levels ever recorded in the Chinese city, which was once viewed as the globally most contaminated city.

Multiple Pollution Sources

The problem in the capital is caused by a mix of various sources including automobile exhaust, dust, building projects, garbage fires and smoke from agricultural fires in nearby regions of neighboring agricultural zones.

Within these states, agricultural workers illegally burn crop residue to clear them quickly, creating hazardous haze that becomes contained over the capital as colder air sets in.

Medical and Economic Toll

Both financial and medical impact on the approximately 33 million inhabitants calling home the Delhi area is significant, according to numerous research.

The contaminated air causes increased incidence of nervous system, cardiovascular and breathing disorders, and can result in malignancies.

Air quality crisis is calculated to be accounting for ten thousand untimely deaths each year in the capital.