Delhi Pollution Dewali: On Sunday, the day of Diwali, the air quality of the national capital was recorded the best in eight years. However, burning of firecrackers and low temperatures at night can increase pollution levels. Delhi residents woke up to a clear sky and sunny morning and the city’s air quality index (AQI) stood at 218 at 4 pm, the best in at least three weeks. Let us tell you, AQI between zero to 50 is considered good, 51 to 100 is considered satisfactory, 101 to 200 is considered moderate, 201 to 300 is considered bad, 301 to 400 is considered very bad and 401 to 450 is considered ‘severe’. Is. When AQI exceeds 450, it is considered in the ‘very serious’ category.
Delhi’s air quality improves
According to Central Pollution Control Board data, AQI in Delhi was 312 on Diwali last year, 382 in 2021, 414 in 2020, 337 in 2019, 281 in 2018, 319 in 2017 and 431 in 2016. The 24-hour average AQI on Saturday was 220, the lowest a day before Diwali in the last eight years. This time, the air quality in Delhi improved rapidly just before Diwali. The biggest reason for this is the intermittent rain on Friday and favorable wind speed to carry away the pollutants. The 24-hour average AQI on Thursday was 437.
Pollution reduced due to rain
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had already predicted a slight improvement in air quality just before Diwali due to favorable weather conditions including light rain due to the influence of western disturbance. Due to Western Disturbance, it rained in most parts of North-West India including Punjab and Haryana, which reduced the contribution of smoke from stubble burning in neighboring states to Delhi’s air pollution. An IMD official had earlier said that once the western disturbance passes, the wind speed will increase to about 15 kilometers per hour on November 11 (Saturday), which will help in dispersion of pollutants before Diwali (November 12).
There is a ban on firecrackers
Keeping in view the trend of the last three years, the Delhi government has announced a blanket ban on the manufacture, storage, sale and use of firecrackers within the national capital. Sporadic incidents of burning of firecrackers were reported in the national capital on Saturday night and Sunday evening. Pollution levels may increase in Delhi on Sunday night due to low temperature and burning of firecrackers. In Delhi, stubble burning in neighboring states, especially Punjab and Haryana, accounted for 23 per cent of pollution in the national capital on Wednesday, according to data from the ‘Decision Support System’ that identifies sources of particulate air pollution. The smoke released was responsible. The contribution of stubble burning incidents to the pollution level in the city was 33 percent on Thursday, while it was 10 percent on Friday.
Firecrackers should not pollute the air again
In the statistics, transportation has also been cited as the main cause of air pollution, which is contributing 12 to 14 percent to the deteriorating air quality of Delhi. Vinay Kumar Sehgal, principal scientist of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, predicted that incidents of stubble burning will reduce in Punjab and Haryana around Diwali due to humid conditions after the rains. Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Friday that the government has postponed the odd-even car scheme for the time being as the city’s air quality has improved a lot due to the rains. He told the press conference that the government will review the air quality after Diwali and if the pollution level increases too much, a decision can be taken on the odd-even scheme.
Rai had earlier said that the scheme would be implemented in the city after the Supreme Court reviews the effectiveness of the odd-even car scheme and issues its order. On Tuesday, the apex court had questioned the effectiveness of the Delhi government’s odd-even scheme and called it a ‘sham’. Doctors have said that breathing Delhi’s polluted air is equivalent to the harmful side effects of smoking 10 cigarettes a day. All the strict restrictions required under the final phase of the Central Government’s ‘Gradual Response Action Plan’ (GRAP) to deal with air pollution in Delhi-NCR have also been implemented in the national capital. According to analysis by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), pollution levels in the city peak from November 1 to 15, as incidents of stubble burning increase in Punjab and Haryana during this time.