NDTV-Dettol Banega Swasth Swachh India NDTV-Dettol Banega Swasth Swachh India
  • Home/
  • Air Pollution/
  • If Delhiites Don’t Celebrate Diwali Cracker Free, Then The City Will Choke. Here’s Why

Air Pollution

If Delhiites Don’t Celebrate Diwali Cracker Free, Then The City Will Choke. Here’s Why

The capital is chocking, yet again! It has been engulfed in a dense blanket of smog – a mix of fog, car exhaust and manufacturing soot – in recent days. If Delhiites choose to celebrate Diwali by bursting crackers, then the air quality will get worse

If Delhiites Don't Celebrate Diwali Cracker Free, Then the City Will Choke. Here’s Why

New Delhi: Ahead of Diwali, the nation’s capital – New Delhi is chocking in its own mess. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi’s Air Quality Index score was 268 on Thursday, which falls in the ‘poor’ category. The city also saw one of the worst surges in the pollutant concentration in air during morning hours, with PM2.5, the most dangerous air particle crossing the 700 level in east Delhi’s Anand Vihar. And the continuous air quality deterioration over the years is due to many reasons – From exhaust fumes from capital’s one crore vehicles to construction dust, soot from the mass-burning of agricultural waste in the neighboring states of Punjab and Haryana, and emissions from factories. Now, if Delhiites choose to celebrate Diwali with crackers despite the ban on the sale of firecrackers then the city will suffocate in its own pollution.

Also Read: Celebrate Waste-Free Diwali: Top 5 Home Décor Ideas To Brighten Up Your Home

Throwback: Delhi After Diwali Last Year

According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research, air quality in Delhi was in the “severe“ category in the festive season last year with an Air Quality Index of 443 on October 30 (Diwali day). The next day, it shot up to 472 with PM2.5 levels touching 302 micro grams per cubic metre – five times the safe standard and 624 (10 times the safe standard) on October 31.

The World Health Organisation has already labelled Delhi as one of the world’s most polluted city, all known as ‘a city with deadliest air’.

Also Read: Diwali Effect: Here’s A Look At How These Cities Choked Due To Air Pollution In 2016

How Pollution Is Affecting Delhiites?

Breathing polluted air puts people at a higher risk for asthma and other respiratory diseases. People who live in polluted areas are at higher risk of Cancer. Not only that, high levels of particle pollution have also been associated with higher incidents of heart problems.

Going by U.S. standards, a level of more than 201 is classified as “very unhealthy,” and levels higher than 301 are considered “hazardous” to health. And Delhi is already falling under the ‘Very unhealthy’ category.

Amid the concerns of air pollution, a government meeting chaired by city Environment Minister Imran Hussain and attended by senior officers of the department and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) was held in the capital recently. Wherein Mr Hussain asked for strict enforcement of directions of the Supreme Court regarding ban on sale of crackers, he has asked the Environment Department to constitute special teams to check on the sale of crackers in various markets in Delhi. He further added, any violation should be reported to the Delhi Police immediately.

Highlights: Banega Swasth India Launches Season 10

Reckitt’s Commitment To A Better Future

India’s Unsung Heroes

Women’s Health

हिंदी में पढ़ें

This website follows the DNPA Code of Ethics

© Copyright NDTV Convergence Limited 2024. All rights reserved.