🔗 Share this article

As Tuesday dawned citizens of this heavily contaminated metropolis encountered inhaling dangerously toxic air that was classified as the "severe" level.

Record-Breaking Pollution Levels

Several parts of the city showed an air quality index exceeding 500, which represents 10x the safe threshold established by the global health authority.

Particular areas, concentrations of toxic particulate matter soared to of 1800, representing fifteen to twenty times exceeding healthy limits.

Firecracker Restrictions and New Policy Shifts

Beginning in 2020, officials had enforced a complete ban on the distribution and bursting of firecrackers during celebrations due to their substantial impact to the dangerous haze that engulfs the metropolis as colder weather begins.

However recently, the recently formed city administration appealed to the supreme court to propose a easing of the prohibition.

They proposed allowing "eco-friendly fireworks" – which have been doubted by environmentalists as being only about 30% reduced emissions – as a middle ground between "tradition and environment".

Legal Verdict and Implementation

Despite concerns of environmental and health activists, the court agreed to the appeal, specifying that eco-friendly pyrotechnics could be set off during limited hours throughout the Diwali.

On Monday night, there was widespread violation of the designated hours across the city, with minimal monitoring regarding whether the pyrotechnics being used were actually the eco-friendly type.

Numerous air quality sensors throughout the city showed contamination reaching highest levels around the night hours to extremely hazardous levels seen during Diwali in at least the past three years.

International Implications

The widespread use of firecrackers during the festival also triggered a blame game with neighbouring Pakistan, with officials in Pakistani Punjab province pointing to deteriorating atmospheric conditions in the city of Lahore on pollutants originating in across the border following the festivities.

Long-Standing Environmental Issue

Extremely elevated readings of atmospheric toxins in Delhi have remained as a major problem for fifteen-plus years, with the situation continuing to worsen.

During the festival period, the levels of toxic particles in the air has been documented to spike to significantly exceeding the worst records ever documented in Beijing, which was formerly considered as the globally most contaminated metropolis.

Multiple Contamination Sources

The problem in the city is attributed to a combination of multiple factors including heavy vehicle emissions, airborne particles, building projects, rubbish burning and haze from agricultural fires in nearby areas of Punjab and Haryana.

In these regions, farmers illegally burn crop residue to expedite field preparation, producing toxic smog that then gets trapped over the capital as colder air sets in.

Health and Financial Consequences

The economic and health impact on the roughly thirty-three million people living in the capital region is substantial, according to multiple investigations.

The contaminated air results in increased incidence of neurological, heart and circulatory and lung disorders, and can result in cancer.

Environmental contamination is projected to be responsible for ten thousand premature mortalities per year in Delhi.