New Delhi, November 13: The levels of PM2.5 (particulate matter with size less than 2.5 micrometres) in Delhi soared to the highest among 11 capital cities in India after Diwali celebrations, despite a ban imposed by the Supreme Court. According to the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) Tracker, the average PM2.5 level in Delhi on the morning of November 13 was the highest among all the cities analyzed. The data was sourced from the Central Pollution Control Board’s Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations.
Despite unseasonal rain prior to Diwali, which caused a temporary drop in pollution levels, the night of November 12 witnessed a rapid rise in pollution due to the widespread use of firecrackers, disregarding the Supreme Court ban. The Delhi Pollution Control Committee reported a 33% increase in PM10 levels and a 45% increase in PM2.5 levels compared to the previous year.
The NCAP Tracker analyzed PM2.5 levels in nine other capital cities – Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Chennai, Gandhinagar, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Mumbai, and Patna. The findings revealed that all cities had PM2.5 levels above the prescribed daily limit of 30 micrograms per cubic meter on the day of Diwali and the following morning. Delhi recorded an average PM2.5 level of 395.9 micrograms per cubic meter on November 13, the highest among all cities.
The highest spike in PM2.5 levels was observed in Delhi, with a reading of 999.5 micrograms per cubic meter in the early hours of November 13. Notably, the levels peaked between midnight and 1:30 am on the same day. Among the analyzed cities, Bengaluru had the lowest average PM2.5 level on the day after Diwali, with a reading of 68.1 micrograms per cubic meter.
Patna witnessed the highest average PM2.5 level on the day of Diwali at 206.1 micrograms per cubic meter, significantly exceeding the World Health Organization’s safe limit of 15 micrograms per cubic meter.
Climate Trends Director, Aarti Khosla, highlighted the continuous burning of firecrackers in Delhi and other cities as the primary cause of the severe pollution levels surpassing limits. She emphasized the need for a different approach, with the central and state governments working together, as the ban on firecrackers was widely disregarded.
In conclusion, despite efforts to curb pollution during Diwali, the levels of PM2.5 in Delhi and other capital cities in India rose significantly. The Supreme Court’s ban on firecrackers was largely ignored, resulting in alarming pollution levels. It is imperative that authorities take immediate action to address this issue and work towards implementing more effective measures to combat air pollution in the future.
