Delhi Government Blames Punjab for Post-Diwali Air Pollution

Delhi's Air Quality Crisis After Diwali

On Tuesday, the Delhi government attributed the toxic haze enveloping the capital after Diwali to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) administration in Punjab, asserting that extensive stubble burning in Punjab was the main contributor to the pollution, rather than the use of firecrackers.

Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa accused the AAP of intentionally pressuring farmers in Punjab to burn significant amounts of paddy stubble on Diwali night, which led to the dense smog that covered Delhi the next day.

Sirsa remarked, "To appease a specific community, Arvind Kejriwal is disparaging the festival of Lord Shri Ram. These are unfounded claims lacking data and evidence!"

He further noted that despite the Supreme Court's approval for green firecrackers, the Air Quality Index in Delhi increased by only 11 points this year, which he claimed was lower than previous years when firecrackers were banned under AAP's governance.

Sirsa mentioned that the Delhi government had sought the Supreme Court's permission for green firecrackers to allow residents to celebrate Diwali with joy.

On October 15, the Supreme Court permitted the sale and use of green firecrackers in the Delhi-NCR region, with specific conditions.

The court allowed sales only from October 18 to 21 at designated sites and limited their use to specific hours.

Green firecrackers are designed to be less harmful to the environment, as they are made with modified ingredients that exclude toxic substances like lithium, arsenic, barium, and lead.

In response to Sirsa's claims, AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj condemned the BJP-led Delhi government for allegedly defaming Sikh farmers in Punjab.

Bharadwaj stated, "I can assure you that Sikh farmers would never conspire to tarnish Diwali's reputation; it is disgraceful to accuse them. Sikh Gurus sacrificed their lives for Hindus, and it is sinful to make such allegations."

According to the Central Pollution Control Board, the PM2.5 levels in Delhi reached 351 micrograms per cubic meter at 4 PM on Tuesday, which is 23.4 times higher than the World Health Organization's recommended limit of 15 micrograms per cubic meter for a 24-hour period.

Despite the restrictions on green firecrackers being enforced only between 8 PM and 10 PM on Diwali night, many residents reportedly ignited firecrackers outside these hours.

Air quality in Delhi typically worsens during the winter months, often ranking as the world's most polluted capital. Factors contributing to this include stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana, lower temperatures, reduced wind speeds, and emissions from industries and coal-fired power plants.

On the evening following Diwali, the Air Quality Index in Delhi was recorded at 351, categorizing it as 'very poor.'

The index ranges from 0 to 50 for 'good' air quality, 51 to 100 for 'satisfactory,' and 101 to 200 for 'moderate.' As the index increases, air quality declines, with values from 201 to 300 indicating 'poor' air quality, and 301 to 400 signifying 'very poor.'

Values between 401 and 450 indicate 'severe' pollution, while anything above 450 is classified as 'severe plus.'

A day before Diwali, the Commission for Air Quality Management imposed Stage 2 restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan to mitigate pollution in Delhi and surrounding areas.

The Graded Response Action Plan consists of a series of escalating measures aimed at preventing further deterioration of air quality once it reaches a certain threshold in the Delhi-NCR region.

Stage 2 of the plan includes prohibiting the use of coal and firewood, including tandoors in restaurants and open eateries, as well as banning diesel generator sets, except for emergencies.

Additional measures involve mechanical road cleaning and water sprinkling to control dust, along with intensified inspections to enforce dust control at construction sites.

The restrictions under Stage 2 also encompass those from the first stage, which were implemented on October 14.