In spite of the Supreme Court putting a ban on firecrackers on Diwali in the national capital, the air quality has still been labeled as ‘hazardous’ at many places across the national capital. This year, the pollution level is 24 times higher the average level.The overall air quality in Delhi was ‘very poor’ at 319. It was 431 last year.
According to data from Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), the air pollution in Delhi’s RK Puram was reported at 978 (hazardous) on Air Quality Index.
The indicators of pollution monitoring systems indicated that the Particular Matter (PM) has grown more than PM 10, 15 times more in areas such as India Gate. The quantity of PM 2.5 level at 6 AM at India Gate was 911 microns, which ideally should be only 60 micron.
While the firecracker bursting was lower this year a day before and on Diwali, the festivities picked up late in the evening. On Thursday night, the volume of PM 2.5 and PM 10 saw a sudden spike after 7 PM. However, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on Friday stated that the pollution level in Delhi is lower than if compared to the air quality recorded during Diwali in 2016.
Air Quality Index level from 0-50 is considered good, 51-100 is satisfactory, 101-200 is moderate, 201-300 is poor, 301-400 is very poor, and 401 and above is severe.
