• Despite a ban on firecrackers in the national capital, people flouted norms as high-decibel crackers roared in large numbers on Monday night.
Delhi's air quality reached the 'very poor' category on Tuesday morning, a day after Diwali. The Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 323.
Despite a ban on firecrackers in the national capital, people flouted rules as a large number of high-decibel crackers roared on the night of Diwali on Monday, news agency PTI reported. Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai had last week said that bursting of crackers in the national capital on Diwali will attract a jail term of up to six months and a fine of Rs 200.
According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), the AQI in the Delhi region was in the 'very poor' category at 323. However, in Lodhi Road, the AQI was in the 'poor' category. 273.
The AQI in Delhi University region and Pusa remained in the 'very poor' category at 365 and 322, respectively. Also, near IIT Delhi, the AQI was in the 'poor' category at 280. On Mathura Road, the AQI was in the 'very poor' category at 322. Around Delhi airport, the AQI stood at 354 in the 'very poor' category. ,
In winter, stubble burning in adjoining Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan also affects the air quality in the national capital.
The bursting of crackers on Diwali is an age-old tradition, but officials in Delhi said the decision to ban it was taken after considering environmental concerns and the health hazards associated with it.
People in Delhi burst into crackers in large numbers on the entire night of Diwali on Monday, defying the ban imposed on them by the city government.
Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai had last week said that bursting of crackers in the national capital on Diwali will attract a jail term of up to six months and a fine of Rs 200.
Despite legal restrictions in place, people in several parts of the city, including south and north-west Delhi, started bursting crackers early in the evening. High-intensity firecrackers could be heard on the ground or in the air.
And, as the night progressed, the intensity of the firecrackers exceeded the permissible decibel limit, leading some to wonder "were there any restrictions".
The bursting of crackers on Diwali is an age-old tradition, but officials in Delhi said the decision to ban it was taken after considering environmental concerns and the health hazards associated with it.
If crackers are burst like last year, the air quality may drop to the "severe" level on Diwali night itself and remain in the "red" zone for another day, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting End. Research (SAFAR) had previously predicted.
On Monday, in south Delhi's East of Kailash and neighboring places such as Nehru Place and Moolchand, crackers could be heard in the air during the evening hours. Some residents, like every year, burst crackers in their neighborhood.
In Burari too, many residents burst firecrackers despite widespread dissemination of information about the ban.
A similar situation prevailed in Laxmi Nagar, Mayur Vihar and Shahdara in East Delhi. While the intensity was less late in the evening than last year, it increased after 9 pm.
Loud bursts of firecrackers were also reported in south-west Delhi's Munirka area.
A few days ago, 19-year-old Bipasha Ghosh, who came from Kolkata to South Delhi's Kailash Hills area, said, "It is 11 o'clock in the night in my area. Those doing so are irresponsible and insensitive to the environment and people who have respiratory problems and other health issues.
Many people complained of itching in the skin and burning in the eyes due to the smoke from the firecrackers.
A total of 408 teams were formed to enforce the ban.
The Delhi Police constituted 210 teams under the Assistant Commissioner of Police, while the Revenue Department constituted 165 teams and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee 33 teams.
Several people also burst crackers in neighboring cities of Gurugram and Faridabad.
An AQI between zero and 50 is 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor' and 401 and 500 'very poor'. considered 'serious'.
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