Air quality worsens post-Diwali

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, November 15

The air quality index deteriorated this Diwali in the city as compared to the previous year. Unlike the air quality index levels of 282 last Diwali, the air quality index this year reached 328, which is marked as very poor air quality posing several health risks.

The city witnessed the violation of time limit with residents bursting crackers all day and late into night much past the time limit of 8 pm to 10 pm fixed for bursting crackers.

Stubble fires coupled with vehicular and cracker pollution made it one of the most polluted Diwalis witnessed in recent times. Simultaneously, the air quality in the district also took a turn for the worse with haze enveloping the city on Saturday and Sunday. Showers in the afternoon brought some respite from the choking pollution.

Unlike last year, a huge rush was witnessed at the Burlton Park around the Diwali festival this year. People in large numbers converged on the park to burst firecrackers. Streets, thoroughfares, housing societies, etc, were found littered with cracker waste. At many places, crackers like used shells of rockets and anaar, bomb and chakri stubs lay in the middle of streets. Crackers were also burst on Sunday by many after it stopped raining in the evening.

The ambient air quality also worsened this Diwali. From 282 ug/m3 last Diwali, PM 2.5 (fine particulate matter) rose to 328 ug/m3 this year; PM 10 (minute particulate matter) rose from 236 ug/m3 last Diwali to 304 ug/m3 this year, NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) rose from 19 ug/m3 last Diwali to 30 ug/m3 yesterday and O3 (troprospheric or bad ozone) rose from 10 ug/m3 last year to 22 ug/m3 this year.

Kuldeep Singh, Environmental Engineer, Jalandhar, said, “The air quality in Jalandhar has indeed worsened this year. Both firecrackers and stubble burning is responsible for the scenario. Unfortunately, from Delhi to Lahore, the AQI index is very bad. Stubble fires from Pakistan also impact air quality here. A sources apportionment study of six cities in the state is also being conducted to nail the specific cause for the air quality going bad. It will point to the primary causes resulting in bad air – be it stubble fires, firecrackers, vehicular pollution or industries. IIT Delhi will submit a report on the issue by December 31. We will be in a better position then, to ascertain why the air quality has gone so bad.”

14 FIRs registered for defying cracker ban in district

• As many as 14 FIRs were filed in the district against people defying the cracker timelines in the district. While hundreds of people defied the SC guidelines on the issue, police teams remained on toes to keep a check on violators.
• While similar restrictions have also been placed on bursting crackers on Gurpurb, Christmas and New Year, the police said they would be preventing violations with awareness and enforcement.
• Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said, “On Diwali, 14 FIRs were registered. As many people burst firecrackers, on future festivals the police will be keeping a watch on violators and enforcing the SC guidelines punishing offenders wherever needed. Challans for not wearing masks were also issued.”