A day after Diwali celebrations, air quality in Delhi deteriorated with a layer of smog covering parts of the national capital on Monday as several areas recorded AQI as high as 969. According to IQAir, a Swiss group that measures air quality, Delhi is the most polluted city in the world with an AQI of 434 on Monday. At 5:00 am, the air quality level in the town was at 514. According to aqicn.org, air pollution was recorded as the worst in Anand Vihar with an AQI of 969 at 5:00 am.
Meanwhile, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai called a meeting at noon today to discuss the issue. "We have called a meeting of the Environment Department at 12 pm today to analyse the current situation. We will take an action after it," he said.
"The bursting of firecrackers has increased pollution levels in Delhi. Not many people have burst firecrackers but, it was done in some places in a targeted manner. The way BJP leaders were inciting people, its result can be seen today..." Rai said.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), AQI in Anand Vihar is at 301 (Very Poor), in RK Puram at 297 (Poor), in Punjabi Bagh at 288 and 272 at ITO, as of the 7 am data. This comes amid several restrictions including a ban on firecrackers in Delhi to prevent the air from deteriorating further.
The AQI at Anand Vihar was 296 at 6 am, but it increased to 301 by 7 am, as per CPCB data. Most areas in the city recorded air quality in 'poor' category'. However, as per aqi.in, air quality in the New Delhi area was at 589 at 6:55 am. The air quality in Gurugram was recorded as 'Very Poor' with an AQI at 340. In Faridabad, the number was better at 262' (Poor). In Noida, air quality is 'Very Poor', while in Ghaziabad, it the AQI is 279 (poor).
Speaking on declining air quality, Vivek Chattopadhyaya, Principal Programme Manager, Air Pollution Control Cell, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said that it shows the quality has dipped after the bursting of crackers.
"The Air Quality Index is in the Very Poor category in several areas...It indicates that the air pollution level has gone up after the bursting of crackers... The air has become still and its speed is slowing down causing an accumulation of pollution. Right now, we need strictness with our control measures so that the action plan can be implemented across the city..." he told ANI.
On Sunday (Diwali), Delhi witnessed clean weather after weeks of toxic smog in the town following a spell of rain. A ban on firecrackers and other restrictions led to the best air quality on Diwali day in eight years for Delhi on Sunday as the city woke up to clear skies and abundant sunshine, and the AQI stood at 202 at 7 am, the best in at least three weeks.
However, firecracker waste was seen at various places across Delhi on Monday despite a ban on it by the Supreme Court. According to PTI, the intensity of burning firecrackers increased after 4 pm on Sunday, but it was less than last year.
Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Sunday appealed to people to celebrate the festival of lights with grandeur but not burst crackers, adding that all eyes will be on Delhi the very next day. "...I appeal to people of Delhi and nearby areas of Delhi, Diwali is a festival of diyas, celebrate Diwali in a grand manner by lighting diyas but don't burst crackers and make it difficult for people to breathe because the festival is to spread happiness..." he said.
Last year, Delhi recorded an AQI of 312 on Diwali. The capital stood at 382 in 2021, 414 in 2020, 337 in 2019, 281 in 2018, 319 in 2017, and 431 in 2016, according to the data provided by the Central Pollution Control Board.