"Those in the most polluted city in the world once again found themselves breathing dangerously toxic air that fell into the severe category on Tuesday morning. Part of Delhi showed an air quality index (AQI) of more than 500, which is 10 times higher than the level deemed healthy by the World Health Organization. In some areas, levels of PM2.5 and PM10 the toxic particles causing pollution recorded peaks of 1,800, which is 15 to 20 times higher than those deemed healthy."
"They proposed that green crackers which have been previously shunned by environmentalists as they are only about 30% less polluting be allowed over Diwali celebrations as a balance between tradition and environment. Much to the frustration of environmental and health campaigners, judges complied with the BJP's request, stipulating that the green firecrackers could be set off during stipulated time windows during Diwali."
Delhi awoke under a thick haze after widespread Diwali fireworks, marking the start of the annual pollution season. Large parts of the city recorded an AQI above 500 and PM2.5/PM10 peaks near 1,800, far exceeding WHO health thresholds. A sale-and-burst ban on firecrackers in Delhi has been in place since 2020 because of their contribution to winter smog. The regional BJP government sought relaxation of the ban and proposed green crackers as a compromise. The supreme court allowed limited use of green crackers in specified time windows, but time restrictions and green-cracker rules were widely flouted.
Read at www.theguardian.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]