🔗 Share this article The megacity Wakes Up to Hazardous Pollution Following Celebrations Tuesday brought residents of this heavily contaminated metropolis encountered breathing extremely polluted air that was classified as the "alarming" level. Alarming Pollution Measurements Multiple areas of the capital recorded an pollution measurement over 500, which equals 10x the healthy level set by the global health authority. In some locations, readings of PM2.5 and PM10 reached peaks of 1800, amounting to 15-20x higher than healthy standards. Pyrotechnics Prohibition and Current Policy Shifts Since 2020, authorities had enforced a total prohibition on the distribution and bursting of firecrackers during celebrations due to their substantial impact to the dangerous haze that engulfs the capital as the cold season approaches. Yet in recent months, the newly elected local leadership approached the supreme court to seek a easing of the restrictions. The suggestion was allowing "environmentally conscious pyrotechnics" – historically doubted by environmental experts as being only approximately one-third reduced emissions – as a compromise between "cultural practices and environment". Court Ruling and Enforcement Despite concerns of medical and ecological campaigners, judges complied with the request, mandating that green firecrackers could be ignited during designated time windows throughout the festival. On Monday night, there was extensive disregard of the regulated periods across the metropolis, with minimal regulation regarding whether the pyrotechnics being used were actually the supposedly greener type. Numerous recording stations throughout the city recorded pollution spiking around the night hours to some of the worst readings recorded during the festival in at least recent memory. International Consequences The proliferation of firecrackers during the festival also sparked a dispute with neighbouring Pakistan, with officials in Pakistani Punjab province pointing to declining atmospheric conditions in Lahore on hazardous particles originating in neighboring India following the celebrations. Long-Standing Pollution Crisis The dangerously high concentrations of air contamination in the city have remained as a major problem for fifteen-plus years, with the situation continuing to worsen. Around Diwali, the amount of dangerous particles in the environment has been documented to shoot up to 70% higher the peak readings ever recorded in China's capital, which was previously regarded as the planet's dirtiest city. Various Pollution Sources The problem in the city is resulting from a combination of various sources including transportation pollution, dust, building projects, rubbish burning and pollutants from farm burning in adjacent states of neighboring agricultural zones. Within these states, agricultural workers illegally burn crop residue to clear them quickly, generating hazardous pollution that becomes contained over the metropolitan area as colder air arrives. Health and Economic Impact Public health and economic toll on the nearly 33 million inhabitants living in the capital region is substantial, according to various studies. The contaminated air leads to elevated rates of nervous system, cardiovascular and lung diseases, and can potentially cause cancer. Air quality crisis is projected to be causing approximately 10k untimely deaths each year in the capital.