Delhi Set To Celebrate Diwali Amid ‘Severe’ AQI Warning, CM Rekha Gupta Makes Appeal

On Diwali eve, Delhi’s air quality plunged to the “very poor” category. Every year, Delhi chokes in air pollution during Diwali and, as precautionary measures, the previous government imposed a ban on firecrackers in the national capital. However, this year, the BJP-led Delhi government has allowed green crackers.

On Sunday, 24 out of 38 monitoring stations recorded pollution levels in the “very poor” category in Delhi. Anand Vihar entered the ‘severe’ zone with AQI readings crossing 400.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the city recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 296 at 4 pm, placing it in the “poor” category. By 10 pm, the AQI had worsened to 306, entering the “very poor” category and the red zone.

CM Rekha Gupta Urged

To Use Only Green Firecrackers

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta appealed to use only green firecrackers during Diwali. In a message to the people of Delhi, Gupta said, “On this festival of lights, my heart is filled with joy and happiness for all of you.” “Delhi is my family, and on this festival, I wish happiness and a brighter future for every member of this family,” she added.

Earlier this week, the Supreme Court permitted the sale and cracking of green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR during Diwali with certain conditions. The use of green crackers will be confined to specific hours — 6 am to 7 pm on the day before Diwali and 8 am to 10 pm on the festival day. There was a blanket ban on the manufacture, sale, and use of fireworks before.

Delhi Air Quality

Out of 38 monitoring stations in the national capital, 24 reported “very poor” air quality, while Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 409 at 10 pm, falling in the “severe” category.

In the evening, 12 stations reported air quality in the “very poor” range, including Wazirpur (364), Vivek Vihar (351), Dwarka (335), and RK Puram (323).

Other areas such as Siri Fort, Dilshad Garden, and Jahangirpuri recorded an AQI of 318, while Punjabi Bagh stood at 313, Nehru Nagar at 310, Ashok Vihar at 305, and Bawana at 304.