Diwali crackers were banned in Delhi this year due to high pollution

Diwali crackers were banned in Delhi this year due to high pollution

The Delhi government on Wednesday banned the storage, sale and use of crackers in the national capital due to concerns over harmful air pollution during the Diwali season.

The move, by the ruling Aam Aadmi Party last year, linked pollution levels to the spread of Covid-19. The number of cases in the city has increased as air quality has declined in the week after Deepavali- an average of about 6,000 a day for seven days.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, "In view of the dangerous level of pollution in Delhi during Diwali in the last three years, the storage, sale and use of all types of firecrackers has been completely banned, as it was last year. (It) thus saved the lives of the people."

Mr Kejriwal admitted that the ban was imposed late last year and caused losses to traders.

The delay in the ban has led some traders to continue stockpiling and selling crackers - which contributed to Delhi's poor air quality (the day after Diwali) in four years.

Air quality in the national capital was 'severe', with PM2.5 levels six times higher than the safe limit. BM10 levels are about 10 percent above the safe range; In some areas this figure was significantly higher.

"Considering the severity of the pollution after the trader hoarded the crackers . A complete ban was imposed late last year, which caused a loss to the traders. This is a request to all traders.considering the full ban, the crackers should not be stored or sold," he tweeted.

पिछले 3 साल से दीवाली के समय दिल्ली के प्रदूषण की खतरनाक स्तिथि को देखते हुए पिछले साल की तरह इस बार भी हर प्रकार के पटाखों के भंडारण, बिक्री एवं उपयोग पर पूर्ण प्रतिबंध लगाया जा रहा है। जिससे लोगों की जिंदगी बचाई जा सके।

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) September 15, 2021

Air pollution levels in Delhi - ranked as the world's most polluted capital in March - have long been the subject of debate between firecrackers and environmental and health experts urging them to explode.

In 2019, pollution levels rose during and after Diwali.

In 2018 the AQI exceeded 600, which is 12 times higher than the safe limit.

Despite these concerns, many last year violated the law - the rules of the National Green Tribunal, which banned crackers in the national capital region from November 9 to the end of the month.

Other states, including the BJP-ruling states, refused to fully implement the ban; Assam said there was no barrier to “Hindus have the right to celebrate” and Haryana offered a two-hour window.

In addition to crackers, air pollution in Delhi is bad during the festival session.