🔗 Share this article The megacity Rises to Toxic Pollution Post Festival of Lights On Tuesday morning residents of the planet's dirtiest urban center encountered exposed to severely hazardous air that registered in the "severe" level. Record-Breaking Pollution Readings Multiple areas of the capital showed an pollution measurement over 500, which translates to a tenfold increase over the healthy limit set by the World Health Organization. In some locations, readings of toxic particulate matter soared to of eighteen hundred, amounting to 15 to 20 times above acceptable levels. Pyrotechnics Prohibition and Recent Policy Shifts Beginning in 2020, the government had enforced a complete ban on the distribution and bursting of pyrotechnics during celebrations due to their major role to the dangerous haze that engulfs the metropolis as colder weather sets in. Nevertheless earlier this year, the recently formed city leadership appealed to the highest court to seek a easing of the ban. They proposed allowing "environmentally conscious pyrotechnics" – which have been doubted by environmentalists as being only about 30% reduced emissions – as a balance between "heritage and ecological concerns". Legal Ruling and Enforcement Despite concerns of public health and environmental advocates, the court approved the proposal, stipulating that green firecrackers could be used during designated hours throughout the celebrations. During the celebrations, there was considerable disregard of the regulated periods across the city, with minimal enforcement regarding whether the pyrotechnics being used were actually the more environmentally friendly variety. Several monitoring devices throughout the city showed air quality peaking around midnight to extremely hazardous readings recorded during celebrations in at least three years. International Effects Extensive ignition of fireworks during the festival also triggered a dispute with neighbouring the neighboring country, with representatives in Pakistani Punjab province pointing to worsening atmospheric conditions in their urban centers on pollutants coming from neighboring India following the celebrations. Long-Standing Pollution Problem Alarmingly severe levels of air contamination in the capital have persisted as a serious issue for more than 15 years, with the condition showing no improvement. During the festival period, the amount of hazardous particles in the environment has been observed to spike to 70% higher the most severe levels ever recorded in Beijing, which was formerly regarded as the planet's dirtiest urban center. Various Contamination Factors The situation in Delhi is attributed to a combination of various sources including heavy vehicle emissions, construction debris, development work, rubbish burning and haze from crop residue ignition in nearby regions of neighboring agricultural zones. Within these states, farmers routinely ignite agricultural waste to clear them quickly, creating dangerous haze that then gets trapped over the city as colder air descends. Health and Economic Toll Public health and economic toll on the roughly thirty-three million residents living in the metropolitan zone is enormous, according to numerous research. The contaminated air results in high levels of neurological, cardiovascular and lung conditions, and can potentially cause cancer. Air quality crisis is estimated to be causing 10,000 premature deaths per year in the capital.