Delhi Breathes Easier This Diwali: A Crackdown on Pollution

Delhi's Environment Minister, Gopal Rai, thanked residents for limiting firecracker use during Diwali, helping maintain better air quality. Though some residents defied the ban, a special dust-control campaign was conducted, deploying smog guns to further reduce pollution levels in the city.

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Friday thanked the residents of Delhi for largely refraining from using firecrackers during Diwali, a move that played a significant role in preventing a decline in the city's Air Quality Index (AQI) into the 'severe' category.

Despite the majority observing the ban, Rai noted that some still indulged in bursting crackers. He emphasized that the AQI could have improved more substantially if the ban had been fully adhered to.

In addition, a special dust-control campaign was launched on Diwali. Two mobile smog guns were deployed in each Assembly constituency, actively spraying water on roads to minimise dust and further control pollution levels.

(With inputs from agencies.)