Delhi’s air quality has plummeted drastically following the Diwali festival, with firecracker use allegedly bypassing official restrictions. A recent report from the Swiss air quality firm IQAir places Delhi at the top of the list of the world’s most polluted cities.
Once again, Delhi has acquired the dubious title of having the dirtiest air globally. Despite an initiative to use green crackers during Diwali, the situation worsened, leading to toxic air quality that affected not only the capital but also neighboring areas. The IQAir report highlights that three Indian cities rank among the top ten most polluted globally, with Delhi leading, followed by Mumbai in fifth place and Kolkata in eighth. This reveals a troubling trend regarding India’s deteriorating environmental health, with Pakistan’s Lahore and Karachi occupying the second and fourth spots, respectively.
The top ten polluting cities, as reported, predominantly include locations from South Asia and the Middle East, underscoring serious issues of rapid urbanization and environmental negligence. The list reflects a grim reality for these regions and includes cities such as Kuwait, Tashkent, Doha, Canberra, and Jakarta.
Following the festive period, Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) saw a sharp decline. Although the Supreme Court permitted the use of green crackers between 8 PM and 10 PM, festivities went beyond this time frame, resulting in smog enveloping the capital again. By 10 PM, the AQI hit 344, categorized as “very poor,” with several monitoring stations registering figures above 400, which are classified as “severe.”
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), an AQI reading between 0 and 50 is considered ‘good’, and readings between 51 and 100 are labeled ‘satisfactory.’ However, levels exceeding 400 pose hazardous risks. Data from the Decision Support System indicates that vehicular emissions account for 23.3% of the pollution in Delhi.
In an attempt to tackle the escalating issue, the government has activated Stage II of the Graded Action Response Action Plan (Grap). This phase includes bans on non-essential construction and demolition activities, intensified mechanized street cleaning, water sprinkling to control dust, and increased public transport frequency.
Original Source: https://www.firstpost.com/world/delhi-has-dirtiest-air-in-the-world-lahore-stands-second-swiss-firm-iqair-13944027.html
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Publish Date: 2025-10-22 11:34:00
