Faridabad continues to grapple with severe air quality

Bijendra Ahlawat

Tribune News Service

Faridabad, November 9

Residents here are facing heavy smoggy conditions for the past over 36 hours. The smog, which engulfed the city on the morning following Diwali night, continued to hang in the air as bursting of crackers continued on Thursday night as well.

“The orders of the apex court could not stop residents from bursting crackers beyond the time limit. It also continued on Thursday night, though the volume was down. But it contributed to thickening of the smog blanket. No respite is in sight despite it being the third day today,” said Varun Sheokand, a local social and environment activist.

Claiming that sale and supply of crackers went unchecked, despite the imposition of a ban, Sheokand said the cracker mafia allegedly had the support of the officials concerned as no major action came against the accused, despite them violating norms. The burning of crackers continued till midnight, he alleged.

The Supreme Court had announced that only green crackers could be burnt, that too only between 8 and 10 pm.

Meanwhile, an official accepted that no licence had been issued here for sale of crackers this year.

“The police have registered as many as 17 cases of illegal sale of crackers and four cases in connection with violation of ban on burning of the crackers beyond the time limit or nature of the crackers,” said Sube Singh, PRO of the police department.

However, the air quality worsened in the morning following the Diwali night and it remained in the severe or hazardous category as the PM-2.5 continued to hang over 450 for the first time this season. The PM 2.5, which was recorded at 485 on Thursday evening, remained tucked between 450 and 470 till Friday evening. A similar situation was noticed last year on the corresponding dates as the air quality level remained between 325 and 476, it is revealed.