People in Delhi defied the ban on firecrackers on Diwali by worsening air pollution
New Delhi:
A day after millions of people celebrated Diwali across the country, pollution levels in Delhi and its neighboring areas soared as people defied the ban on firecrackers. Air quality in the national capital fell to a “severe category”, exacerbating pollution caused by burning agricultural waste in neighboring states.
The average AQI in Delhi at 8 am was 468. Doctors and scientists say that short-term exposures to high levels of PM 2.5 can cause serious health problems, including the worst coronavirus infections. It can also make blood pressure and asthma worse.
Almost all areas of the city registered PM2.5 levels above 400 and many regions approached the alarming mark of 500. The Air Quality Index (AQI) for the pollutant PM 2.5 crossed 800 for the most part from the capital on Diwali night.
The sale and burning of firecrackers has been totally banned in the National Capital Region (NCR) from midnight on November 9 to midnight on November 30 due to horrendous levels of pollution.
Earlier this month, a bank led by NGT President Judge Adarsh Kumar Goel clarified that the direction will apply to all cities and towns in the country where the average ambient air quality during November 2019 It was from “bad” and higher categories.
Today it is likely to rain lightly under the influence of a western disturbance. It’s not yet clear if it’s enough to remove the pollutants, said Kuldeep Srivastava, head of IMD’s regional forecasting center.
Amid the rise in coronavirus cases, rising pollution levels in Delhi have become a major concern. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is likely to meet with Interior Minister Amit Shah to discuss these concerns, the sources said.
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