Delhi government on Wednesday announced a “complete ban” on the sale, use and storage of firecrackers in the Capital this Diwali. This pre-emptive ban was imposed in view of the city’s deteriorating air quality over the past three years, said chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in a series of tweets.“Taking into consideration the deteriorating pollution levels in Delhi over the last three years around Diwali time, like last year it has been decided that the storage, sale and use of firecrackers has been completely banned. This has been done to save people’s lives,” he tweeted on Wednesday.
Air quality in the national capital was ‘severe’, with PM2.5 levels nearly six times the safe limit. PM10 levels were about 10 per cent over the safe limit; in some areas this figure was significantly higher.
Air pollution levels in Delhi – ranked in March as the most polluted capital city in the world – have long been a debate between those who insist on bursting firecrackers and environment and health experts.
