Delhi's Crackdown: The Battle Against Firecrackers

Despite a comprehensive ban, enforcement gaps and unchecked sales of firecrackers in Delhi and neighboring regions led to severe air quality degradation during Diwali. Experts cite lack of real-time monitoring and regional cooperation, highlighting an institutional failure in managing enforcement and prevention of pollution hazards.

Enforcement gaps and slack monitoring allowed widespread violation of Delhi's firecracker ban, leading to deteriorating air quality during Diwali as per expert opinions. Despite setting up 377 enforcement teams, Delhi's eastern and western neighborhoods reported significant non-compliance.

Experts pointed to unchecked sales and influxes from neighboring NCR areas, exacerbated by limited police presence, as key factors in the violations. The senior Delhi Pollution Control Committee official confirmed awareness campaigns were held, but enforcement was primarily the responsibility of the Delhi Police.

While air quality plunged to 'very poor', some key regions marked a 'severe' category AQI, prompting calls for better regional cooperation to ensure ban compliance. Sparse police patrolling and air quality monitoring tools were also noted as significant challenges in upholding the ban effectively.

(With inputs from agencies.)