Highlights:
- The decision was made in the wake of the pollution levels in the national capital during Diwali from the past three years.
- The city’s air pollution levels rose during and after Diwali in 2019.
- This year, Diwali will be celebrated in the first week of November.
Due to concerns about hazardous air pollution levels during Diwali, the Delhi government prohibited the storage, sale, and use of firecrackers in the national capital on Wednesday.
The move is similar to what the ruling Aam Aadmi Party declared last year, when the horrendous pollution levels were also attributed to the spread of COVID-19.
Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of Delhi, tweeted, “In view of the dangerous condition of Delhi’s pollution during Diwali in the last three years, like last year, a complete ban is being imposed on the storage, sale and use of all types of firecrackers. (This is) so that people’s lives can be saved.”
Mr. Kejriwal admitted that last year’s restriction was implemented very late, resulting in losses for traders.
According to him, the lateness of the order caused some shopkeepers to continue stocking and selling firecrackers, which contributed to Delhi’s worst air quality levels (on the day after Diwali) in four years.
The national capital’s air quality was ‘severe,’ with PM2.5 levels roughly six times the permissible limit.
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The national capital’s air quality was deemed ‘severe,’ with PM2.5 levels roughly six times the acceptable limit.
“In view of the seriousness of pollution after the stocking of firecrackers by trader… last year a complete ban was imposed late, which caused losses to traders. It is an appeal to all traders (this time) that in view of the complete ban, do not store or sell firecrackers,” Mr. Kejriwal posted a tweet.
पिछले साल व्यापारियों द्वारा पटाखों के भंडारण के पश्चात प्रदूषण की गंभीरता को देखत हुए देर से पूर्ण प्रतिबंध लगाया गया जिससे व्यापारियों का नुकसान हुआ था। सभी व्यापारियों से अपील है कि इस बार पूर्ण प्रतिबंध को देखते हुए किसी भी तरह का भंडारण न करें।
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) September 15, 2021
Air pollution levels in Delhi, which was named the world’s most polluted capital city in March, have long been the topic of heated debate among environmental and health experts.
The city’s air pollution levels worsened during and after Diwali in 2019. The Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeded 600 in 2018, which is 12 times the acceptable level.
