🔗 Share this article Delhi Wakes Up to Hazardous Pollution After Diwali As Tuesday dawned citizens of the world's most polluted city found themselves inhaling dangerously toxic air that registered in the "critical" level. Extremely High Pollution Measurements Various sections of Delhi registered an air quality index above 500, which translates to a tenfold increase over the safe limit recommended by the global health authority. Certain monitoring stations, concentrations of dangerous airborne particles reached peaks of 1,800, amounting to 15-20x higher than safe limits. Fireworks Prohibition and New Policy Shifts Since 2020, authorities had enforced a complete ban on the sale and use of pyrotechnics during celebrations due to their major role to the hazardous smog that engulfs the capital as winter sets in. However recently, the recently formed city leadership approached the judicial authority to request a relaxation of the restrictions. They proposed allowing "environmentally conscious pyrotechnics" – historically doubted by environmental experts as being only about 30% less polluting – as a balance between "tradition and public health". Judicial Ruling and Enforcement To the disappointment of public health and environmental campaigners, judicial authorities approved the proposal, mandating that environmentally conscious fireworks could be set off during designated hours throughout the Diwali. On Monday night, there was widespread disregard of the regulated periods across the capital, with insufficient enforcement regarding whether the pyrotechnics being used were actually the more environmentally friendly version. Many monitoring devices throughout the capital registered air quality reaching highest levels around midnight to the most severe readings recorded during Diwali in at least three years. Cross-Border Implications The proliferation of fireworks during Diwali also triggered a blame game with adjacent Pakistan, with representatives in Pakistan's the Punjab region pointing to deteriorating atmospheric conditions in their urban centers on pollutants coming from across the border following the celebrations. Chronic Environmental Problem Extremely elevated concentrations of pollution in Delhi have persisted as a serious issue for over a decade and a half, with the situation showing no improvement. Around celebratory seasons, the levels of hazardous particles in the environment has been documented to increase dramatically to 70% higher the peak readings ever recorded in the Chinese city, which was previously considered as the globally most contaminated urban center. Multiple Contamination Contributors The problem in the city is caused by a convergence of different contributors including heavy vehicle emissions, dust, construction activities, garbage fires and pollutants from farm burning in adjacent areas of farming communities. In these regions, farmers illegally ignite agricultural waste to expedite field preparation, creating toxic smog that remains stagnant over the metropolitan area as cooler air descends. Health and Economic Impact Public health and economic impact on the approximately 33 million people calling home the metropolitan zone is substantial, according to multiple research. The contaminated air causes increased incidence of nervous system, heart and circulatory and breathing disorders, and can potentially cause malignancies. The pollution is projected to be causing approximately 10k early mortalities each year in the city.