Delhi AQI: After nine years, good weather saved the people of Delhi from being infamous on Diwali night. This is the reason why people of Delhi used fireworks extensively on Diwali night. Despite this, Delhi’s air was saved from being registered in the severe category after Diwali.
In fact, after Diwali after 2015, the people of Delhi experienced unexpected relief due to improvement in air quality. This was possible because strong winds blew continuously in Delhi on the night of Diwali, due to which the layer of dense smoke dispersed rapidly and by 4 pm on Friday the AQI came down to 339, which further improved to 323 by 7 pm.
Increase in noise pollution
Let us tell you that compared to the last few years, this time the people of Delhi used fireworks extensively despite the ban on Diwali. According to a DPCC report, an increase was seen in the noise level of Delhi on the day of Diwali as compared to last year.
The readings, measured in decibels (dB) from 6 pm to midnight, showed that the noise level at Karol Bagh was the highest recorded in the city with an average level of 88.7 dB, while the noise level in 2023 was recorded at 84.5 dB.
A significant increase was also seen in Alipore and Najafgarh, where noise levels reached 58.0 dB and 58.3 dB respectively, an increase of five percent and eight percent compared to 2023.
In Delhi’s residential areas, Mundka recorded a six per cent increase in noise levels, while Ashok Vihar saw a slight decline. According to the report, commercial areas were also affected. Both Connaught Place and Dwarka recorded an increase in noise levels reaching 70.9 dB and 74.0 dB respectively.
In contrast, noise levels at Kashmere Gate declined by six percent from 73.8 dB in 2023 to 69.3 dB this year. Mixed results were also recorded in industrial areas, where Wazirpur saw a three per cent increase in noise levels, while Narela saw a 1.6 per cent decline.
Fireworks continued even after the ban
There were massive fireworks display in Delhi even at a time when the Delhi government had banned the manufacturing, storage, sale and use of firecrackers for the fifth consecutive year in an effort to tackle pollution.