Delhi air 'very poor' all across on Diwali morning; firecracker ban yet to kick into tangible effect

As Delhi gears up to celebrate Diwali, the city's air quality remained "very poor" on Thursday, the morning of the festival of lights. The Air Quality Index (AQI) was 330 at 9 am and is expected to deteriorate further towards the evening as festivities take on. Not much had changed an hour later, i.e., at 10:30 am, as Delhi's overall AQI further dipped by a point to 331.

Delhiites woke up Thursday to a sky shrouded in a thick layer of smog. The air in East Delhi's Anand Vihar, a major terminus, was especially polluted with AQI in the "severe" category. Anand Vihar, which consistently ranks as one of the most polluted areas of Delhi, had an AQI of 422 this morning, as per data from SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research).

Thirty-eight monitoring stations showed that air was in a "very poor" category across the city. The 24-hour average air quality index on Wednesday stood at 307.

An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100'satisfactory', 101 and 200'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400'very poor', 401 and 450'severe' and above 450'severe plus'.

In 2023, Delhi residents enjoyed clearer skies and abundant sunshine, with an AQI of 202 in the morning, according to the data. Delhi recorded an AQI of 218 on Diwali last year, 312 in 2022, 382 in 2021, 414 in 2020, 337 in 2019, 281 in 2018, 319 in 2017, and 431 in 2016, according to Central Pollution Control Board data. Last year, a decrease in stubble-burning incidents and rain before Diwali, along with favorable meteorological conditions, prevented the national capital from turning into a gas chamber after the festival.

But no such respite seems to be in sight for the city this year, with most monitoring stations registering an AQI above 300, which falls in the very poor category. Delhi earlier in the month announced a comprehensive ban on the manufacture, storage, sale, and use of firecrackers. This ban is set to be in effect till January 1, 2025.

However, about 79 cases of sale and storage of firecrackers have already been filed, with the government seizing about 19,005 kg of crackers so far. On Wednesday, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai announced that 377 teams have been formed to enforce the ban on firecrackers across the national capital. He said that authorities are in touch with the resident welfare associations, market associations, and social organizations to spread awareness.

Citizens are also sourcingpatakhas from adjoining areas like Ghaziabad and Noida in Uttar Pradesh and Faridabad, Gurugram in Haryana. Per various media reports, citizens have found a near absence of any checkpoints in these areas, allowing them to bring in firecrackers into the city with relative ease.

Police teams have been formed to ensure that firecrackers are not burst. Those found bursting crackers will be subject to up to 6 months in jail, and a fine of Rs 200. For those found selling or storing these firecrackers, the punishment goes as high as a fine of Rs 5,000 and up to 3 years in jail.

"Legal action will be taken against those found bursting crackers. They may also be booked under the relevant sections of the BNS (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita) for violating government orders," an officer said.

Unfavorable meteorological conditions, combined with vehicular emissions, paddy-straw burning, firecrackers, and other local pollution sources, contribute to hazardous air quality levels in the Delhi-NCR during winters. According to a Delhi Pollution Control Committee analysis, the city experiences peak pollution from November 1 to 15, when the number of stubble-burning incidents in Punjab and Haryana increases.