The air in India’s capital, New Delhi, is shrouded in toxic smog, with pollution levels escalating following a fireworks ban that was largely ignored during the exuberant celebrations of the Hindu festival of lights, Diwali.
New Delhi, with its congested roads, is home to over 30 million residents and frequently ranks among the most polluted cities in the world.
Each year, the city suffers under a blanket of cancer-inducing acrid smog, primarily attributed to stubble burning by farmers in nearby regions clearing their fields for the ploughing season, coupled with emissions from factories and vehicle exhaust.
However, air quality declined further after a night filled with the noisy discharge of fireworks as part of Diwali celebrations, despite city officials prohibiting their sale and use last month.
Before Diwali, the city police confiscated nearly two tonnes of fireworks, yet the items remained widely accessible for purchase in neighboring states.
Many locals chose to celebrate at home, enjoying family meals and lighting small candles in honor of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness.
The air quality in New Delhi has deteriorated following a night of explosive firecracker displays.
Others set off fireworks and booming crackers, reverberating through the densely populated city all night long.
Law enforcement is often hesitant to penalize offenders, given the deep-rooted religious significance attributed to fireworks by Hindu worshippers.
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Critics argue that disputes among rival politicians overseeing neighboring states — as well as conflicts between central and state authorities — have exacerbated the situation.
Last month, India’s Supreme Court declared that clean air is a fundamental human right, compelling both central and state authorities to take necessary action.
“Delhi’s toxic air is gradually suffocating us with its smog,” remarked the Times of India in an editorial last week as the winter pollution season reemerged.
“While this issue is hardly new, what is consistently astonishing is the state’s tepid response year after year.”
New Delhi consistently ranks among the most polluted urban areas globally.
‘Hazardous’ air
Concentrations of fine particulate matter — perilous fine particles known as PM2.5 that can penetrate the bloodstream through the lungs — spiked to levels exceeding 23 times the World Health Organization’s recommended daily limit.
Shortly after dawn, pollution levels reached 345 micrograms per cubic meter, reported monitoring company IQAir, branding the air quality in the vast megacity as “hazardous”.
It ranked New Delhi as the worst in the world for air quality, just above the smoke-laden city of Lahore in neighboring Pakistan, which lies 400 kilometers to the northwest.
A cyclist in New Delhi wears a mask amid perilous smog conditions.
In the past, the New Delhi government has attempted to mitigate pollution by limiting vehicle access, such as implementing a scheme allowing vehicles with odd or even license plates on alternate days.
Authorities have also instituted seasonal bans on construction activities and restricted diesel-powered vehicles from entering the city.
“The severity of the issue is such that mere incremental changes won’t suffice,” warned The Indian Express, criticizing an unfortunate lack of determination from both the central and state governments.
