Delhi pollution highlights: 40 cases registered for violating firecrackers ban on Diwali

The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has decided that the Parking fees (off road/on road) have been enhanced to twice of the existing to discourse private transport for the parking managed by NDMC through its own staff till 31st January 2024.

The Delhi Police has registered 40 cases for violation of the ban on firecrackers during Diwali night across the city, PTI is reporting.

The Supreme Court banned the bursting of conventional firecrackers to curb air and sound pollution in 2018.

The concentration of fine, lung-damaging particulate matter PM2.5 and PM10 increased by 45 percent and 33 percent respectively on Diwali compared to last year, according to an analysis by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC).

The city recorded a 24-hour average PM2.5 concentration of 314 micrograms per cubic meter, compared to 217 micrograms per cubic meter last year and 607 micrograms per cubic meter in 2021.

Particulate air pollution levels in several Indian cities such as Patna, Chennai, Lucknow and Hyderabad spikes on Sunday night due to heavy bursting of fire-crackers on occasion of Diwali, local environment officials said on Monday.

Even the overall air quality of index (AQI) of major cities Patna, Muzaffarpur, Gaya, Bhagalpur and even small towns like Rajgir and Purnia almost doubled in the past 24 hours with pollution levels in Patna and Purnia towns touched 500, the highest on AQI, on Monday morning. AQI of cities like Rajgir, Muzaffarpur, Gaya and Bhagalpur was found to be 429, 449, 496 and 490 on Monday morning, owing to heavy concentration of PM2.5 in the ambient air, Bihar pollution control board officials said.

On air pollution, Dr Suresh Kumar, Medical Director, LNJP Hospital said to ANI, "The Air Quality Index is still over 300 and several patients have been admitted to our OPD and Emergency wards. There are COPD and asthma patients who are admitted to our Emergency wards. 15 such patients have been admitted yesterday. To protect ourselves, we need to wear masks. People who are complaining of breathlessness or sore throat should visit the doctor..."

The Delhi Traffic Police issued more than 700 challans on Diwali to vehicle owners for driving without valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates, officials said on Monday.

According to data shared by the police, 710 challans were issued on Diwali on Sunday (November 12) to vehicles operating without a valid PUC (PUC) certificate. A total of 584 challans and 1,085 notices were issued for obstructive or improper parking and 44 vehicles were towed away by traffic cranes.

Talking to PTI, Gopal Rai said, "The AQI was over 300 last year and this year it was less than 300. Due to rain, there was wind and pollution levels went down. People of Delhi followed the SC ban and government restrictions on bursting of firecrackers.

"We saw in some places, especially BJP leaders promoting firecrackers. There was a targeted bursting of firecrackers at some places and due to that, the AQI has gone up today. If those crackers had not burst, the AQI would have remained low."

Measures under Stage IV of Centre's air pollution control plan will continue in Delhi till further orders: Environment Minister Gopal Rai.

The Delhi Fire Service on Diwali received 208 calls related to fire, 22 of them caused by firecrackers, and other stress situation, an official said on Monday. "We received 16 non-fatal fire calls from Mangolpuri, Bajleet Nagar, Bhorgagh, Rajouri Garden, Kohat Enclave, three road accidents," said the official, adding three calls were received about locked houses.

On the firecracker ban, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari says, "...Very few firecrackers and green crackers were burst... But Congress and other parties have a problem with people celebrating Diwali. Their pain is that the people of Sanatan (Dharma) should not celebrate their festival... There was rain two days ago. What was the AQI before the rain, and how much is it now? ....It is less..."

On bursting for firecrackers in Delhi on Diwali, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said to ANI, "There is a ban on production, storage and sale of firecrackers in Delhi. The firecrackers were brought to Delhi from UP and Haryana. The police of Delhi, Haryana and UP are under the control of BJP and no common man can easily supply the firecrackers amid the monitoring of these three police forces. Some specific people have done this."

Campaign to control dust pollution extended till Nov 30, month-long drive against open burning of waste from Nov 14, says Delhi minister Gopal Rai.

Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai conducts pollution review meeting at Delhi Secretariat - VIDEO

Delhi on Monday saw a surge in pollution levels and a thick layer of smog returned to the capital after residents flouted the ban on firecrackers on Diwali night. What can you do to stay healthy amid Delhi's ‘very poor’ AQI? READ HERE

Drone visuals show a dip in Delhi's air quality the day after Diwali.

Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai on Monday said that the pollution levels in the national capital have increased due to the bursting of firecrackers. “Not many people have burst firecrackers but, it was done in some places in a targeted manner,” he said. Hitting out at some BJP leaders, he added, “The way BJP leaders were inciting people, its result can be seen today. If they would've been responsible, the pollution level would have been in control.”

Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai calls a pollution review meeting with the officers of the environment department at the Delhi Secretariat.

Vivek Chattopadhyaya, Principal Programme Manager, Air Pollution Control Cell, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) on Sunday said that the air pollution levels have gone up after the bursting of crackers. “The air has become still and its speed is slowing down causing an accumulation of pollution. Right now, we need strictness with our control measures so that the action plan can be implemented across the city,” he told ANI.

Visuals from Kartavya Path - WATCH

The concentration of PM 2.5 in Delhi has been recorded at 20 times the limit prescribed by the World Health Organisation (WHO), prompting the city government to order the closure of all primary classes and restrict the entry of trucks.

Despite a blanket ban on fireworks in the national capital owing to worsening air quality, people across the city engaged in bursting firecrackers on Diwali night.

The air quality across Delhi continues to be in the 'poor' category as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The AQI in Anand Vihar stands at 296, 290 in RK Puram, 280 in Punjabi Bagh, and 263 in ITO.