Delhi, Oct 22 : Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday highlighted a slight improvement in air quality in the aftermath of Diwali, stating that post festival pollution levels were lower compared to previous years. Speaking at a press conference, Gupta emphasized that her government has taken all possible measures to mitigate air pollution in the national capital.
She said, “If we compare the AQI of the day after Diwali with previous governments, the numbers have decreased. Although permission was granted for bursting firecrackers, the gap in AQI between Diwali and the following day has reduced, indicating a decrease in pollution. The government is doing whatever is possible for Delhi.”
The statement comes amid criticism from environmentalists and former G20 Sherpa Kant, who argued that allowing the use of “green” firecrackers prioritizes the right to celebrate over the right to breathe. Kant emphasized that only strict enforcement against firecracker use can prevent Delhi from facing an environmental crisis.
Despite the improvements, residents of Delhi woke up on Tuesday to a thick blanket of smog. The Air Quality Index (AQI) at 5:30 am stood at 345, categorised as ‘very poor,’ while several monitoring stations recorded AQI levels exceeding 500 on Diwali night, placing the city in the ‘severe’ category. The 24-hour average AQI for Tuesday was 351, up slightly from 345 recorded on Monday.
Experts note that low wind speeds, firecracker emissions, and stubble burning in neighbouring states such as Punjab and Haryana continue to contribute to Delhi’s toxic winter haze, making post-monsoon pollution a recurring challenge despite regulatory measures.