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NEW DELHI: The cities of Delhi and the NCR have again seen their air quality sag on Diwali, but this is not thanks to people who blew up crackers and violated a prescription of the Supreme Court authorizing the latter to control the level of pollution and which were more disgusting than last year.
The air quality in Delhi on Wednesday, the day of Diwali, oscillated between the categories "poor" and "very poor", while the authorities warned of a serious deterioration in the quality even if "partially toxic crackers" are burned compared to last year. Thursday morning, the air quality of most air quality control stations in the city was "very bad".
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On Wednesday, 11 areas in Delhi recorded "very bad" air quality, while 24 areas recorded "poor" air quality, according to CPCB data. An IQA between 0 and 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".
However, as the evening of Diwali arrived and despite the ban of the Supreme Court, the residents of Delhi-NCR arrived and burst, though their volumes were smaller than those of previous years, but the quality of the air had quickly gone down.
Jahangirpuri, arguably one of Delhi's most polluted sites, had the highest level of PM10 reading (4,499 micrograms per cubic meter), according to the real-time monitoring of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee. at 11 pm, and the highest among the DPCC stations during the night of Diwali. Wazirpur, at 1 am, saw the PM2.5, the finest particles, reaching an astronomical peak of 4 659 micrograms per cubic meter, which is the highest of all the DPCC stations of this Diwali. The permissible limits for PM10 and PM2.5 are 100 and 60 micrograms per cubic meter. Dwarka, Okhla and Aurobindo Marg, among others, have also shown a sharp rise in pollution levels.
Last year, Delhi had an air quality index of 319, which falls in the very poor category in Diwali. However, it was much better than in 2016, while the IQA on Diwali reached 431 in 2015 and 343 in 2015. In the small hours of the following day Diwali 2017, the AQI for Delhi was in 340. In 2016, the next day's AQI was 445 while in 2015 it was 360. This year it is slightly higher at 343.
The air quality and weather forecasting and research system had previously forecasted poorer air quality on Wednesday night and Thursday.
"The highest levels of PM10 and PM2.5 are expected between 11am and 3am on Wednesday and Thursday. The air quality will be bad Thursday and will begin to improve from Friday, even if partially toxic crackers are burned compared to 2017, "warned the agency run by the government.
According to SAFAR, stubble burning in Delhi's suburban states and firecrackers are deteriorating air quality in the nation's capital. "The number of fires is considered very high, but it is a combination of thatch and firecrackers prevalent in this area and should not be confused with a thatch only. ", said SAFAR in a report released Wednesday.
He also said that the combination of several rapidly changing meteorological parameters plays a key role in controlling air pollution at this time.
The air quality in Delhi is expected to deteriorate to become a "serious plus emergency" category after Diwali, said SAFAR. "Even if we add 50% of the total charge of toxic firecrackers compared to Diwali 2017, the prevailing weather conditions will worsen the high level of smoke and will ensure that the air quality will continue for at least two days on November 8 and November. 9, he says in a report.
SAFAR also predicted that the PM10 concentration in Delhi is expected to reach 575 and PM2.5 at 378 on Thursday, recording the worst air quality of the year if the firecrackers are burned, he said. precise.
The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology said that winds blowing from the northwest are driving the influence of biomass burning on Delhi-NCR, which could continue until Thursday morning.
Also last year, on October 9, the Supreme Court banned until October 31 the sale of firecrackers in the National Capital Region of Delhi (NCR). However, no such ordinance opposes buying and bursting and Delhi is solely responsible for the air it breathes. because of the current weather conditions.
This year, the Supreme Court ordered that firecrackers, other than green cookies, are not sold in the Delhi-NCR region of Diwali and other festivals. It is a viable alternative for many. But on the ground, people wanted to ignore the ban and burst and burn anars, phuljharis and rockets.
Previously, providing for high levels of pollution between November 1 and 10, the Supreme Court-appointed Pollution Prevention and Control Authority (EPCA) announced the cessation of construction activities for 10 days in the Delhi-NCR region, as well as coal and industries based from 4 to 10 November and have asked people to limit exposure to stale air during these ten days.
"However, what is required is the participation and involvement of all of us in the fight against the pollution crisis, which we know is a serious health crisis. We call on all citizens of the NCR to join the fight against air pollution, "he said.
The EPAA also announced on Tuesday the ban on the entry of trucks in Delhi, an emergency measure provided in the action plan for a phased intervention, from 8 to 10 November, taking into account the high levels of post-Diwali pollution.
