New Delhi/IBNS: The air quality of national capital Delhi and its surrounding areas worsened a day after Diwali for the first time this season with a large number of people ignoring the two-hour-limit for bursting firecrackers enforced by the Supreme Court, media reports said.
According to reports, Delhites woke up to a hazy morning with air pollution reached hazardous levels with PM2.5 particulate matter which can enter deep into the lungs reaching 735 micrograms per cubic meter at Delhi University, Ministry of Earth Sciences' air quality monitor, SAFAR showed.
System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) Pusa, Airport Terminal T3, Lodhi Road, Mathura Road, Noida, Ayanagar, Chandni Chowk, Dhirpur, and IIT Delhi was 480, 460, 436,413. 668, 477,466, 553 and 483, respectively.
The overall Air Quality Index(AQI) was 348 at 11:30 am, according to SAFAR.
Neighbouring Gurgaon and Noida also reported unabated fireworks beyond the permitted time frame.
In 2018, the Supreme Court banned the manufacturing and sale of polluting firecrackers and allowed that only green firecrackers, which cause 30 per cent less pollution, be used.
However, green crackers have failed to make an impact owing to higher prices, limited variety and poor availability.
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