Introduction
Air quality is one of the most crucial aspects of a healthy life. Delhi NCR is one of the worst regions when it comes to the air quality index. Every year, during the winter season, the place is encapsulated in smog filled with fumes and debris.
Some blame the firecrackers of Diwali, while others blame the geography of the region. Regardless, Delhi’s air quality index does not get better. So, let’s find out what the majority of the population is missing and how to address the issue with neutrality.
Delhi’s Air Quality Index
During Diwali night, people burst firecrackers, and this takes the AQI of the region to hazardous levels. However, if you look a week before, the AQI is still very high for the Delhi-NCR region. This is not a coincidence but a series of events that unfolds during the festive season. We’ll talk about this later.
The second aspect of Delhi’s low AQI is the factories and construction work. The whole region is surrounded by factories and construction sites. This also contributes to the poor air quality. So, including this contributing sector is important before putting the blame on firecrackers.
Pollution from Firecrackers
Firecrackers burned during the festival of Diwali cause pollution. They result in smoke, fumes, flames and even sound. Everyone can see that, but this event only happens for a day. Eventually, the smoke should clear out within a few days.
The geography of the region makes it difficult for the smoke to clear out, but that’s a different aspect of the air pollution. No one can do anything about it, considering that we have to move the mountains.
Many individuals have already stopped burning firecrackers during the festive season. This is a good step for ensuring good air in the region. However, the air is still very poor. The reason goes beyond the borders of Delhi-NCR to the farming lands.
The Real Reason for Poor AQI
Stubble burning in Punjab and some regions of Haryana is the reason for degrading Delhi’s AQI. It is the truth, and no one wants to speak ill of the farmers. They should be held accountable and answerable not only to the people of Delhi but also to their own states.
Stubble burning is a cheap way to discard the residue of the crops in Punjab. Even with the introduction of new technology for handling stubble, the practice continues. This, along with factories and cars, contributes to the majority of air pollution in Northern India.
Burning of crops is a public health issue which involves the farmers. No politician or party wants to question them, considering it will affect their voter base.
But this is the reality of the problem. So, if we do not hold these poor farming practices accountable and come up with long-term solutions, the pollution will persist each year.
Final Thoughts on Delhi’s AQI
Poor AQI does not exist only in Delhi. It is an issue of North India. Even states like Punjab and Haryana suffer from low air quality. To really solve this crisis, the blame game is a cheap and unsettling option.
Instead, we should agree that the reasons can be mitigated with strategies and planning. Finally, everyone needs air for survival, so it is just foolish to put blame on festivals rather than the root cause.