🔗 Share this article The megacity Awakens to Dangerous Smog Post Celebrations Tuesday brought residents of the world's most polluted city were faced with exposed to severely hazardous air that was classified as the "critical" range. Extremely High Air Quality Readings Various sections of the city recorded an pollution measurement over 500, which translates to 10x the healthy threshold recommended by the World Health Organization. Certain monitoring stations, concentrations of toxic particulate matter reached peaks of eighteen hundred, representing 15 to 20 times above healthy levels. Fireworks Prohibition and Current Developments For the past four years, the government had implemented a comprehensive restriction on the sale and use of fireworks during Diwali due to their substantial impact to the dangerous smog that covers the metropolis as colder weather sets in. However in recent months, the newly elected local leadership approached the highest court to seek a relaxation of the ban. They proposed allowing "eco-friendly fireworks" – previously doubted by conservation groups as being only about 30% less polluting – as a middle ground between "cultural practices and environment". Legal Verdict and Enforcement Despite concerns of public health and environmental campaigners, judges agreed to the request, specifying that green firecrackers could be ignited during limited periods throughout the Diwali. Throughout the festival evening, there was widespread violation of the time restrictions across the metropolis, with minimal regulation regarding whether the pyrotechnics being used were actually the supposedly greener version. Numerous recording stations throughout the capital recorded air quality reaching highest levels around late evening to some of the worst levels seen during celebrations in at least the past three years. Cross-Border Consequences Extensive ignition of pyrotechnics during Diwali also triggered a blame game with adjacent the neighboring country, with representatives in Pakistan's Punjab province pointing to declining air quality in Lahore on hazardous particles originating in India following the festivities. Chronic Pollution Problem Extremely elevated readings of atmospheric toxins in the capital have continued as a serious issue for more than 15 years, with the condition continuing to worsen. Around celebratory seasons, the concentration of toxic airborne contaminants in the environment has been found to increase dramatically to seventy percent above the most severe records ever measured in Beijing, which was formerly considered as the globally most contaminated urban center. Various Pollution Factors The problem in Delhi is resulting from a convergence of multiple factors including transportation pollution, dust, development work, garbage fires and pollutants from crop residue ignition in neighbouring regions of neighboring agricultural zones. Throughout these areas, farmers regularly ignite agricultural waste to prepare for next season, creating dangerous pollution that remains stagnant over the city as cooler air arrives. Public Health and Economic Toll The economic and health toll on the nearly 33 million inhabitants calling home the metropolitan zone is significant, according to numerous studies. The contaminated air results in increased incidence of nervous system, heart and circulatory and lung disorders, and can even lead to oncological diseases. Environmental contamination is calculated to be responsible for approximately 10k early deaths each year in the capital.