Image Source hindustantimes
As the lights of Diwali faded across the National Capital Region (NCR), the question on everyone’s mind remained — did Delhi’s much-touted “Green Diwali” campaign make a real difference to the city’s air quality this year?
Authorities had pinned hopes on awareness drives, a ban on firecrackers, and intensified anti-pollution measures to keep post-Diwali smog levels in check. Yet, by Monday morning, data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed the Air Quality Index (AQI) hovering in the ‘very poor’ category, with several monitoring stations crossing the 350 mark.
According to officials, Delhi saw fewer firecrackers burst compared to previous years, but localized violations and unfavorable weather conditions — including low wind speed and humidity — worsened the haze. Areas such as Anand Vihar, Jahangirpuri, and RK Puram recorded some of the highest pollution readings overnight.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Environment Minister Gopal Rai had earlier appealed to residents to celebrate an eco-friendly Diwali by avoiding firecrackers and opting for diyas and green decorations. The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) also deployed enforcement teams across the city and kept strict surveillance using drones.
Preliminary analysis by environmental experts suggests that while emissions from crackers may have declined marginally, stubble burning in neighboring Punjab and Haryana continued to contribute significantly to particulate matter levels in the capital. “Even a small reduction in local emissions helps, but transboundary pollution remains a major challenge,” said an official from SAFAR-India, the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research.
Despite the smog, many residents reported clearer skies on Diwali evening compared to last year, though the relief was short-lived as pollutants accumulated overnight.
With winter setting in, Delhi’s air quality is expected to worsen in the coming weeks. The government has urged citizens to continue following green practices, minimize vehicle use, and support ongoing clean-air initiatives to ensure that the “Green Diwali” spirit lasts beyond the festive season.
The festive bursts had quieted, but their imprint lingered in the air, thick with smog and microscopic pollutants. By 8 a.m., the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) had climbed to 350, wrapping the capital in a veil of post-celebration pollution.
[Newsroom staff written original, where key claims or facts are used, I’ve referenced the original sources (like The Times of India, Hindustan Times, The Hindu etc.) transparently.]
