🔗 Share this article Delhi Rises to Dangerous Pollution Post Diwali On Tuesday morning citizens of the world's most polluted city were faced with inhaling dangerously toxic air that fell into the "alarming" level. Alarming Pollution Levels Various sections of the city registered an AQI above 500, which translates to 10x the recommended limit set by the WHO. In some locations, levels of toxic particulate matter reached peaks of 1,800, equating to 15 to 20 times above safe standards. Fireworks Prohibition and Current Policy Shifts Since 2020, the government had implemented a comprehensive restriction on the purchase and ignition of pyrotechnics during celebrations due to their major role to the dangerous haze that blankets the capital as winter sets in. However in recent months, the newly elected city government petitioned the judicial authority to seek a modification of the ban. They proposed allowing "environmentally conscious pyrotechnics" – which have been doubted by environmental experts as being only about 30% lower impact – as a balance between "cultural practices and ecological concerns". Court Verdict and Enforcement To the disappointment of environmental and health activists, judicial authorities approved the request, mandating that eco-friendly pyrotechnics could be used during designated hours throughout the celebrations. Throughout the festival evening, there was widespread violation of the designated hours across the capital, with minimal enforcement regarding whether the pyrotechnics being used were actually the supposedly greener version. Many air quality sensors throughout the city showed pollution peaking around midnight to the most severe readings observed during Diwali in at least recent memory. International Effects The widespread use of fireworks during the festival also initiated a dispute with adjacent Pakistan, with authorities in Pakistani the Punjab region partly blaming declining air quality in Lahore on pollutants traveling from India following the events. Chronic Pollution Issue The dangerously high readings of air contamination in the capital have persisted as a serious issue for over a decade and a half, with the problem gradually deteriorating. Near celebratory seasons, the amount of toxic particles in the environment has been documented to increase dramatically to 70% higher the worst readings ever measured in Beijing, which was previously considered as the globally most contaminated urban center. Multiple Pollution Contributors This crisis in the capital is resulting from a convergence of various sources including heavy vehicle emissions, construction debris, development work, rubbish burning and pollutants from crop residue ignition in nearby areas of neighboring agricultural zones. Throughout these areas, agricultural workers illegally set their fields on fire to clear them quickly, creating hazardous smog that becomes contained over the city as winter air arrives. Health and Financial Consequences Both financial and medical impact on the roughly thirty-three million people calling home the capital region is significant, according to various research. These hazardous conditions results in increased incidence of neurological, heart and circulatory and breathing conditions, and can even lead to oncological diseases. The pollution is estimated to be responsible for approximately 10k untimely deaths each year in the city.