Delhi Wakes Up to Dangerous Haze After Festival of Lights

As Tuesday dawned citizens of the planet's dirtiest urban center were faced with exposed to dangerously toxic air that fell into the "severe" level.

Record-Breaking Pollution Levels

Several parts of the capital recorded an pollution measurement exceeding 500, which equals ten times the recommended limit established by the global health authority.

Particular areas, levels of toxic particulate matter soared to of 1800, equating to fifteen to twenty times higher than acceptable standards.

Fireworks Prohibition and Recent Policy Shifts

For the past four years, authorities had maintained a total prohibition on the distribution and bursting of fireworks during celebrations due to their substantial impact to the hazardous haze that engulfs the city as colder weather sets in.

However recently, the recently formed regional government appealed to the highest court to propose a modification of the ban.

The suggestion was allowing "eco-friendly fireworks" – historically criticized by environmentalists as being only roughly 30 percent less polluting – as a balance between "cultural practices and public health".

Court Verdict and Implementation

Despite concerns of environmental and health campaigners, the court complied with the request, stipulating that green firecrackers could be used during specific hours throughout the Diwali.

On Monday night, there was considerable violation of the designated hours across the city, with little regulation regarding whether the pyrotechnics being used were actually the more environmentally friendly version.

Numerous monitoring devices throughout the city registered air quality reaching highest levels around the night hours to some of the worst readings recorded during the festival in at least the past three years.

Regional Implications

The proliferation of firecrackers during Diwali also sparked a controversy with bordering the neighboring country, with representatives in Pakistani Punjab province partly blaming deteriorating pollution levels in their urban centers on pollutants originating in neighboring India following the festivities.

Chronic Environmental Problem

Extremely elevated levels of air contamination in the capital have remained as a major issue for fifteen-plus years, with the problem continuing to worsen.

Around Diwali, the levels of dangerous particulate matter in the air has been documented to spike to 70% higher the worst levels ever measured in China's capital, which was once regarded as the globally most contaminated city.

Diverse Contamination Factors

The problem in the city is resulting from a convergence of multiple factors including heavy vehicle emissions, dust, construction activities, waste incineration and smoke from agricultural fires in adjacent areas of neighboring agricultural zones.

Throughout these areas, rural residents illegally burn crop residue to prepare for next season, creating toxic haze that then gets trapped over the metropolitan area as cooler air descends.

Medical and Financial Toll

Both financial and medical toll on the approximately 33 million people living in the capital region is significant, according to various investigations.

This pollution leads to increased incidence of nervous system, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and can even lead to cancer.

The pollution is estimated to be accounting for approximately 10k premature fatalities per year in the city.