While the country was celebrating the festival of lights, the air quality of Delhi turned “severe” on eve of the festival. Though the Delhi state government put up a blanket ban on firecrackers muting the Diwali celebrations, the city recorded an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of 414 at pm 2.5.

ALSO READ|Senior BJP Leader Kailash Sarang Passes Away Due To Prolonged Illness; PM Modi Offers Condolences

According to weather officials, the city air quality turned “severe” on Saturday, with stubble burning alone accounting for 32 per cent of the PM2.5 pollution and calm winds worsening the situation as they allowed the accumulation of pollutants.

The 24-hour average AQI that the city recorded was 339 on Friday and 314 on Thursday.

As compared to Diwali last year on October 27, the city recorded an AQI of 337, in 2018 the 24-hour average was 281 termed as “poor” which deteriorated to 390 the very next day turning into “severe”.

According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) this time, the air quality may improve on Sunday as a fresh western disturbance is likely to increase the wind speed, and rain is anticipated.

According to Kuldeep Srivastava, head of the IMD’s regional forecasting center, Light rain is likely on Sunday under the influence of a western disturbance. It is still to be seen if it is enough to wash away pollutants.

“However, Delhi-NCR’s air quality is likely to improve post-Diwali due to an expected increase in the wind speed on Sunday,” he further said.

Concerned with the AQI and the increase in the number of Covid-19 cases, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had on Monday imposed a total ban on the sale or use of all kinds of firecrackers in the National Capital Region (NCR) from November 9 at midnight to November 30 midnight, saying “celebration by crackers is for happiness and not to celebrate deaths and diseases”.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel clarified that the direction will apply to all cities and towns in the country where the average of ambient air quality during November 2019 was in “poor” and above categories.

ALSO READ|Covid Test Certificate, Face Masks, Social Distancing: Strict Norms & Arrangements In Place As Sabarimala Temple Reopens On Sunday

Meanwhile, anticipating the increase in pollution levels during the festive season, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on Wednesday ordered the closure of hot mix plants and stone crushers in Delhi-NCR till November 17.

(With inputs from PTI News Agency)