Pollution levels across cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai have reached concerning levels after crackers were burst on the occasion of Diwali and Kali Puja, flouting restrictions on permitted hours or a complete ban imposed by the courts. The national capital had initially recorded its best air quality in eight years on Diwali day, with an AQI of 218 at 4 pm. However, late-night firecracker bursting led to a spike in pollution levels. The AQI on Monday rose to 358 by 4 pm, signifying 'very poor' air quality.


An AQI from 0 to 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'.


Delhi Air Pollution


Authorities in Delhi have registered over 40 cases in East and Northeast police districts for the alleged violation of the Supreme Court's ban on bursting firecrackers during Diwali. The ban, in effect since 2018 to curb air and sound pollution, has seen cases under Section 188 of the IPC for disobedience to the order, news agency PTI reported. The Delhi Police has not yet provided consolidated data from all districts, but the Supreme Court's recent clarification extends the ban beyond Delhi-NCR, covering all states. As of Monday, Delhi's AQI stood at 358 (severe category).


In response to the escalating pollution levels in the capital, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has taken decisive measures by doubling parking fees (both off-road and on-road) until January 31, 2024. The move aims to discourage private transport and promote the use of public transportation.


ALSO READ | Delhi Struggles To Breath As Smog Engulfs Capital, PM2.5 Rises By 45% On Diwali Compared To 2022


Mumbai Air Pollution


In Mumbai, the police took action against 806 individuals, registering 784 offenses for violating the Bombay High Court's directives on firecracker use during Diwali. The court had limited the bursting of firecrackers to a specific timeframe (8 pm to 10 pm), and the city police enforced this restriction between November 10 and 12. Offenses were primarily related to causing air pollution, with fines imposed on 734 violators, according to an official cited by PTI. The drive against violations will continue in the coming days, he said.


Chennai Air Pollution


Tamil Nadu police have registered over 2,000 cases for violating the Supreme Court's two-hour cap on bursting firecrackers during Deepavali celebrations. Chennai, amidst poor to very poor air quality, saw 210 tons of firecracker waste cleared from its streets, as per PTI. A total of 2,206 cases have been filed against 2,246 persons for breaching the fixed duration norm. Despite the poor air quality, the pollution control board noted a reduction of 40% in pollution compared to the previous year, the TN Pollution Control Board said. 


This year, the lowest value of 207 (AQI-Air Quality Index) was observed at Besant Nagar while the highest value of 365 AQI was logged at Valasaravakkam.


Kolkata Air Pollution


Air quality in Kolkata remained 'poor' a day after Kali Puja and Diwali, with haze enveloping several areas. The West Bengal Pollution Control Board reported AQI readings ranging from 171 to 310 at various monitoring stations, PTI reported. Despite a quieter Diwali and coordinated efforts by police and pollution control authorities, pollution levels shot up after sunset on Sunday. Environmentalists highlighted concerns about unscientific measurements using drones to assess noise levels. Kolkata's AQI ranged from 171 to 310 at various monitoring stations, according to PTI.


“Both the police and WBPCB worked in tandem to check the influx of illegal fireworks in the run-up to the festival days and this worked. We are assessing the available data now,” an official of the West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) told the news agency.


Punjab & Haryana Air Pollution


Several parts of Haryana reported 'poor' to 'very poor' air quality indices a day after Diwali. Faridabad, Gurugram, Fatehabad, Jind, Kaithal, and Kurukshetra recorded indices above 300, signifying deteriorating air quality. Punjab's Bathinda reported an AQI of 380, and Amritsar recorded 256. Despite authorities granting permission to burn green crackers for a restricted period, both states witnessed a decline in air quality. The Union Territory of Chandigarh reported an AQI of 232.


Speaking to news agency ANI, Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian emphasised that his state was not contributing as much to the pollution levels in the national capital. He said, "The smoke from here will be for five-seven days only, after that, we will get to know where is it from (smoke in Delhi). Smoke persists in Delhi all the time... It was Diwali yesterday, before that it was Dussehra...When it rains, the pollution will come down."



He pointed to neighboring states such as Haryana, UP, and Rajasthan while stressing that Punjab was being "defamed".


Asked about the Supreme Court's tough stance on stubble burning, he said: "Supreme Court is supreme. We have to abide by what it says. But our police, agricultural officials, and panchayats also held camps and people were explained things. Sometimes, a few incidents are reported and they are highlighted."


He added that the stubble is being majorly used up for several purposes including as biowaste.