New Delhi: Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai called on residents to celebrate the festival responsibly, emphasizing the importance of avoiding firecrackers in light of rising pollution levels. With the city’s air quality index (AQI) reported at 330—classified as “very poor”—Rai urged citizens to prioritize health over tradition by lighting diyas and distributing sweets instead of bursting crackers.
In an interview with ANI, Rai stated, “Tonight is very important. If we all come together and celebrate Diwali without crackers, we can protect the lives of our children and elders.” He added that the Delhi government had implemented a comprehensive ban on the manufacture, storage, sale, and use of firecrackers to combat air pollution, especially during the festival season.
To ensure compliance, the Delhi government has formed 377 enforcement teams collaborating with resident welfare associations, market bodies, and social organizations to raise awareness about the ban. Police forces are actively deployed to monitor compliance, with legal action threatened against violators under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for breaking government orders.
Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal echoed Rai’s sentiments, urging citizens to avoid firecrackers and instead embrace the festival’s essence by lighting diyas. He pointed out that courts have supported measures to limit firecracker use due to their contribution to pollution, asserting, “This is a festival of lights, not fireworks.”
With Anand Vihar experiencing an AQI in the “severe” category, the situation underscores the urgency of these appeals. As winter approaches, pollution levels are expected to rise due to various factors, including stubble burning in neighboring states.
Residents are reminded that adverse weather conditions, emissions from vehicles, and other local pollution sources exacerbate the already hazardous air quality in the Delhi-NCR region. The Delhi Pollution Control Committee has indicated that pollution typically peaks between November 1 and 15, aligning with an uptick in stubble-burning incidents in Punjab and Haryana.
The appeal to celebrate Diwali with care aims to strike a balance between cultural traditions and public health, urging Delhiites to reflect on the impact of their celebrations.
