🔗 Share this article

Tuesday brought inhabitants of this heavily contaminated metropolis found themselves exposed to extremely polluted air that registered in the "severe" level.

Extremely High Air Quality Levels

Several parts of Delhi showed an pollution measurement above 500, which equals 10x the recommended threshold established by the WHO.

Certain monitoring stations, readings of toxic particulate matter soared to of 1,800, amounting to 15 to 20 times exceeding safe limits.

Pyrotechnics Prohibition and Current Changes

For the past four years, authorities had implemented a comprehensive restriction on the sale and use of fireworks during Diwali due to their significant contribution to the dangerous smog that engulfs the city as colder weather sets in.

However recently, the newly elected city administration petitioned the highest court to seek a relaxation of the restrictions.

The suggestion was allowing "environmentally conscious pyrotechnics" – which have been questioned by conservation groups as being only about 30% lower impact – as a balance between "cultural practices and ecological concerns".

Judicial Decision and Reality

Much to the frustration of medical and ecological advocates, the court complied with the request, specifying that environmentally conscious fireworks could be ignited during limited periods throughout the Diwali.

Throughout the festival evening, there was considerable disregard of the time restrictions across the city, with little enforcement regarding whether the pyrotechnics being used were actually the more environmentally friendly variety.

Many recording stations throughout the capital registered contamination reaching highest levels around the night hours to some of the worst readings seen during Diwali in at least recent memory.

Cross-Border Implications

Extensive ignition of fireworks during the festival also triggered a blame game with neighbouring Pakistan, with authorities in Pakistan's the Punjab region pointing to deteriorating air quality in Lahore on contaminants originating in neighboring India following the festivities.

Long-Standing Environmental Crisis

Alarmingly severe levels of pollution in the city have remained as a significant challenge for fifteen-plus years, with the problem continuing to worsen.

Around Diwali, the amount of dangerous airborne contaminants in the environment has been documented to spike to 70% higher the most severe records ever documented in China's capital, which was once regarded as the globally most contaminated city.

Multiple Contamination Contributors

This crisis in the city is resulting from a convergence of multiple factors including automobile exhaust, dust, building projects, rubbish burning and haze from agricultural fires in nearby regions of farming communities.

Within these states, farmers regularly burn crop residue to expedite field preparation, creating hazardous pollution that becomes contained over the metropolitan area as colder air sets in.

Health and Economic Impact

The economic and health impact on the approximately 33 million residents residing in the metropolitan zone is substantial, according to numerous studies.

These hazardous conditions leads to high levels of neurological, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and can result in malignancies.

Environmental contamination is projected to be causing ten thousand premature deaths per year in the city.