🔗 Share this article Delhi Awakens to Dangerous Smog Post Celebrations On Tuesday morning inhabitants of this heavily contaminated metropolis encountered breathing extremely polluted air that registered in the "alarming" level. Alarming Pollution Measurements Several parts of the city registered an AQI over 500, which represents 10x the safe threshold set by the WHO. Certain monitoring stations, readings of PM2.5 and PM10 hit highs of eighteen hundred, equating to 15 to 20 times exceeding acceptable limits. Fireworks Ban and New Policy Shifts Beginning in 2020, officials had enforced a total prohibition on the purchase and ignition of fireworks during Diwali due to their major role to the dangerous smog that engulfs the metropolis as colder weather begins. Yet in recent months, the recently formed regional leadership petitioned the supreme court to request a modification of the prohibition. The suggestion was allowing "green crackers" – previously criticized by environmental experts as being only about 30% less polluting – as a middle ground between "heritage and environment". Court Decision and Implementation Much to the frustration of public health and environmental activists, the court agreed to the appeal, specifying that environmentally conscious fireworks could be used during designated periods throughout the Diwali. During the celebrations, there was considerable disregard of the regulated periods across the capital, with minimal enforcement regarding whether the fireworks being used were actually the more environmentally friendly type. Numerous air quality sensors throughout Delhi recorded contamination peaking around midnight to some of the worst measurements recorded during celebrations in at least three years. Cross-Border Consequences Extensive ignition of firecrackers during the festival also initiated a dispute with neighbouring Pakistan, with authorities in Pakistani Punjab partially attributing deteriorating atmospheric conditions in their urban centers on contaminants coming from neighboring India following the events. Persistent Pollution Issue The dangerously high levels of air contamination in the city have continued as a major problem for over a decade and a half, with the problem continuing to worsen. Near celebratory seasons, the levels of dangerous particulate matter in the air has been found to shoot up to seventy percent above the most severe readings ever measured in Beijing, which was once viewed as the world's most polluted metropolis. Multiple Contamination Contributors The problem in the city is caused by a combination of various sources including transportation pollution, airborne particles, development work, rubbish burning and pollutants from crop residue ignition in neighbouring areas of Punjab and Haryana. Within these states, farmers regularly burn crop residue to prepare for next season, generating hazardous haze that becomes contained over the city as cooler air arrives. Medical and Financial Toll Public health and economic impact on the approximately 33 million residents living in the Delhi area is enormous, according to numerous studies. This pollution causes high levels of neurological, cardiovascular and lung diseases, and can even lead to cancer. Environmental contamination is calculated to be accounting for approximately 10k premature mortalities per year in Delhi.