• By Aditya Jha
  • Sat, 02 Nov 2024 09:26 AM (IST)
  • Source:JND

The pollution level in several cities across the country has witnessed a spike post-Diwali. Despite the government imposing a ban on bursting of firecrackers, people continued to light them resulting in an increase in air pollution. 

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the quality of the air deteriorated heavily after midnight on Thursday. The pollution was relatively less till 6-7 pm, as there were minimal cases of firecrackers bursting till then. However, AQI increased after 8 pm when people started lighting firecrackers. The AQI in Delhi around 11 pm was 330, in comparison to 327 at 7 pm. However, the AQI of the national capital on Friday, a day after Diwali, reached 362 at 7 am.

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Chandigarh Pollution: The administration in Chandigarh had given permission for fireworks from 8 to 10 pm, but it started much earlier and continued till late night. The AQI recorded in Chandigarh post Diwali (on Friday) was 395. It was 250 a day before Diwali, and usually it remains 140 on the normal days. 

The story was no different for the other major cities, as the air quality of most of the cities of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal deteriorated post-Diwali. The AQI increased dramatically in Lucknow, Patna, and Kolkata. There were huge fireworks even on the mountains, and the AQI of Dehradun was recorded at 270 on Diwali. The AQI of the capital city of Uttarakhand was 159 a day before Diwali, and usually, it remains the same.

ALSO READ: Delhi AQI: Gopal Rai Applauds Delhiites For 'Responsible' Diwali, BJP Slams AAP For 'Anti-Hindu' Rules

A political row started in Delhi as environment minister Gopal Rai thanked Delhiites for a "responsible" Diwali celebration and claimed that the BJP-ruled states should learn the pollution control methodology from the AAP government. However, the BJP stated that the AAP government was "anti-Hindu" as the community could not celebrate the festival as per their rituals. The saffron party further stated that AAP's Punjab government could not control the cases of stubble burning. 

City-Wise AQI Comparision on day before and after Diwali: 

City AQI before Diwali AQI after Diwali
Chandigarh 250 395
Delhi 307 330

Dehradun

 159 270

Baddi (Himachal Pradesh)

 223 351
Patna 54 188