NEW DELHI, Nov 1 (Reuters) – New Delhi has once again emerged as the world’s most polluted city, a situation exacerbated by the disregard for a firecracker ban during the Diwali festivities. This annual Hindu celebration, known as the festival of lights, typically contributes to increased pollution levels in the Indian capital.
Each winter, Delhi faces significant pollution challenges as cold air traps dust, vehicle emissions, and smoke from agricultural burning in neighboring states such as Punjab and Haryana. The use of firecrackers during Diwali intensifies these issues. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi recorded an air quality index (AQI) level of 339 in the 24 hours leading up to Friday evening, which is categorized as “very poor.” This figure represents a slight decrease from the AQI of 358 recorded the day after Diwali in 2023. Swiss air quality monitoring firm IQAir has ranked Delhi as the world’s most polluted city in its live assessments.
The CPCB defines an AQI of 0-50 as “good” and an AQI of 401-500 as “severe,” indicating conditions that can adversely affect healthy individuals and pose significant risks to those with pre-existing health conditions.
Delhi’s Environment Minister, Gopal Rai, noted that the anticipated spike in pollution levels following Diwali did not materialize to the expected extent. “I want to congratulate the people of Delhi for acting as responsible citizens by controlling the use of firecrackers, which helped mitigate pollution,” Rai stated in an interview with ANI.
In recent years, local government officials have imposed bans on firecrackers during Diwali and the winter months, adhering to directives from the Supreme Court. However, enforcing this ban has proven challenging, despite the potential for legal repercussions. Some Hindu organizations argue that the ban infringes on cultural traditions, while the Delhi government maintains that it is essential for public health.
According to the Earth Sciences Ministry, Delhi’s air quality is expected to remain at the higher end of the “very poor” category throughout the week.
The current pollution crisis coincides with the annual practice of stubble burning in northern India, where farmers burn crop residue after harvesting paddy to expedite land preparation for wheat sowing. This practice typically aggravates pollution levels at the onset of winter. Government data indicates that while farm fires contributed less than 2% to Delhi’s pollution on Monday, this figure increased to nearly 28% by Thursday, with experts predicting further escalation in the coming days.
Gufran Beig, Chair Professor at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS) and founder of SAFAR, the federal government’s air quality monitoring agency, emphasized the need for proactive measures. “The peak season for stubble burning is yet to come; the first two weeks of November represent the critical period, and we must take steps to control it,” he cautioned.
