🔗 Share this article Delhi Rises to Toxic Pollution Post Festival of Lights Tuesday brought residents of this heavily contaminated metropolis were faced with breathing dangerously toxic air that registered in the "alarming" category. Record-Breaking Air Quality Levels Several parts of Delhi recorded an AQI above 500, which equals ten times the recommended limit set by the WHO. Certain monitoring stations, levels of PM2.5 and PM10 hit highs of 1800, representing 15 to 20 times higher than healthy standards. Firecracker Restrictions and Current Changes Beginning in 2020, officials had enforced a total prohibition on the distribution and bursting of firecrackers during Diwali due to their significant contribution to the deadly smog that engulfs the city as winter sets in. Nevertheless recently, the recently formed regional administration approached the highest court to seek a easing of the ban. They proposed allowing "green crackers" – which have been questioned by environmental experts as being only roughly 30 percent reduced emissions – as a middle ground between "heritage and public health". Court Decision and Enforcement Despite concerns of environmental and health campaigners, the court complied with the request, mandating that environmentally conscious fireworks could be ignited during designated periods throughout the Diwali. During the celebrations, there was extensive flouting of the designated hours across the metropolis, with little enforcement regarding whether the firecrackers being used were actually the more environmentally friendly variety. Numerous monitoring devices throughout Delhi registered contamination reaching highest levels around midnight to extremely hazardous readings recorded during celebrations in at least recent memory. Regional Implications The widespread use of pyrotechnics during the celebrations also triggered a dispute with bordering Pakistan, with representatives in Pakistan's the Punjab region partly blaming declining atmospheric conditions in Lahore on contaminants traveling from across the border following the festivities. Chronic Pollution Issue The dangerously high readings of atmospheric toxins in Delhi have remained as a significant problem for more than 15 years, with the situation continuing to worsen. During the festival period, the levels of hazardous particulate matter in the air has been observed to increase dramatically to significantly exceeding the worst levels ever documented in Beijing, which was once viewed as the planet's dirtiest urban center. Various Pollution Factors The situation in the city is resulting from a mix of various sources including transportation pollution, dust, construction activities, garbage fires and smoke from crop residue ignition in neighbouring regions of neighboring agricultural zones. In these regions, agricultural workers regularly ignite agricultural waste to clear them quickly, generating toxic smog that becomes contained over the metropolitan area as winter air sets in. Medical and Financial Consequences Both financial and medical consequences on the approximately 33 million inhabitants living in the capital region is significant, according to multiple investigations. The contaminated air leads to high levels of nervous system, heart and circulatory and breathing conditions, and can potentially cause cancer. The pollution is projected to be causing approximately 10k premature mortalities each year in the capital.