Supreme Court allowed green crackers under strict rules, yet Delhi’s air pollution surged, exceeding WHO limits by nearly 15 times

New Delhi woke up on Tuesday under a thick blanket of smog, with the city’s air quality plunging into the ‘Very Poor’ category and several districts hitting ‘Severe’, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

At 8 am, the city-wide Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 350. Bawana topped the chart at 423, followed by Wazirpur at 408 and Jahangirpuri at 407. Ashok Vihar, Burari Crossing, and Punjabi Bagh ranged between 376 and 399, while IGI Airport Terminal 3 recorded 302, and Lodhi Road 322. Northern and central cities such as Lucknow, Patna, and Jaipur posted AQIs in the low 200s, whereas Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai remained in moderate to satisfactory zones.

Ahead of Diwali, the Supreme Court had permitted the sale and use of green crackers under strict conditions, including Neeri approval, QR codes, licensed traders, and limited usage windows. Yet, Delhi’s air pollution still exceeded the World Health Organisation’s recommended limits by roughly fifteenfold.

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) imposed Stage 2 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across the National Capital Region. Measures include intensified road dust suppression, regulated diesel generator use, higher parking fees, and stricter enforcement at construction sites. Daily road sweeping, frequent water sprinkling, traffic synchronisation, and hotspot inspections are now mandatory, alongside public alerts on pollution levels.

Despite these steps, the post-Diwali haze underscores the persistent challenge of balancing festive traditions with the urgent need for clean air. Experts warn that without year-round enforcement, Delhi’s short-lived reprieves from pollution will remain fleeting.