A thick gray blanket descended on India's capital Monday, pushing the Air Quality Index into the severe range after Diwali fireworks lit the night sky.
Key points
- Delhi's AQI exceeded 350 on Monday, classifying the air as severely polluted.
- Approved "green firecrackers" still emit particulate matter and contribute to the smog.
- Crop‑residue burning in Punjab and Haryana adds significant smoke to Delhi's winter haze.
- Long‑term solutions such as cleaner energy and tighter vehicle emission controls are urged by environmentalists.
Early Monday morning a dense smog enveloped New Delhi, driving the Air Quality Index above 350 in several locations and placing the city in the "severe" health‑risk category, according to monitoring stations across the metropolitan area.
Despite a Supreme Court order that limited conventional fireworks, residents still set off firecrackers on Sunday evening. The court had permitted only approved "green firecrackers" for three‑hour windows on Saturday and Sunday, but officials note that even these reduced‑emission devices release fine particulate matter and other pollutants.
Fireworks add to winter haze
The fireworks coincided with the annual winter pollution cycle, when cooler temperatures, low wind speeds and stagnant air trap pollutants. Smoke from crop‑residue burning in the neighboring states of Punjab and Haryana drifts toward Delhi, adding to emissions from vehicles, industry, construction dust and diesel generators.
New Delhi authorities have responded with measures such as construction activity limits and restrictions on diesel generators, while courts have sought to curb firecracker use. However, the city’s air quality consistently deteriorates each year, indicating that current steps are insufficient to prevent the seasonal crisis.
Legal limits on firecrackers
Environmental groups argue that lasting improvement will require broader actions, including a shift to cleaner energy sources and stricter vehicle‑emission standards, to break the cycle of annual hazardous haze.
Reader questions
What AQI level is considered severe?
An Air Quality Index above 350 is classified in the severe category, indicating a high risk to public health.
Why does air pollution spike after Diwali?
Fireworks release large amounts of fine particulate matter, and the timing coincides with winter conditions and crop‑burning smoke that together trap pollutants over the city.
What are "green firecrackers" and are they pollution‑free?
"Green firecrackers" are a court‑approved type that emit fewer pollutants than conventional fireworks, but they still release particulate matter and are not completely pollution‑free.
Source: wral.com