Day before Diwali, Delhi’s air quality plummets to ‘very poor’
A day ahead of Diwali, air pollution increased considerably in the Capital on Wednesday with as many as eight monitoring stations recording “very poor” quality air.
The air quality index (AQI) reached 307, placing Delhi in the “very poor” category according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The CPCB noted that prolonged exposure to poor air quality can lead to respiratory illnesses.
Gurugram, Charkhi Dadri, Bhiwani, Sonepat, Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad and Muzaffarnagar reported AQI levels in the range of 200-260.
Under its special drive, the Delhi traffic police issued 47,363 challans for pollution under control violations between October 1 and 24, collecting fines totalling Rs 47 crore from motorists for these violations during that period.
A fine of Rs 10,000 is imposed on motorists for not having a valid pollution under control certificate.
The smoke from firecrackers contributes to the deteriorating air quality. Additionally, the Delhi Police have registered 79 cases related to the sale and storage of firecrackers and seized 19,005 kg of firecrackers.
No Hindu-Muslim angle to cracker ban: Ex-CM
New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said there was no question of Hindu or Muslim in banning of firecrackers on Diwali in the Capital. “Bursting firecrackers leads to pollution, and pollution harms everyone. By avoiding pollution, it’s not as if we are doing a favour to others; in reality, we are doing a favour to ourselves. We and our little children will have to bear the brunt of the pollution. So there is no question of Hindu or Muslim in this. Everyone’s breath is important, everyone’s life is important,” Kejriwal said. “The Supreme Court, High Court and all courts have emphasised that we should light lamps instead of bursting firecrackers. This is a festival of lights, and we should celebrate it by lighting lamps and candles, and not by bursting fireworks,” he added.
