NEW DELHI: Tradition trumped law and concern over air pollution as a large number of Delhiites openly defied the Supreme Court’s guidelines and celebrated Diwali on Wednesday by bursting traditional firecrackers despite a major crackdown.
While reports suggested fewer crackers were burst this year than in 2017, air quality the day after Diwali was almost as bad. The average AQI recorded on Thursday was 390, at “very poor” level bordering on “severe” and just 13 notches below last year’s post-Diwali level (403). CPCB said early morning pollution post-Diwali this year was higher than last year’s level.
In a first for the capital, police registered 634 cases and arrested 310 people for bursting crackers. The crackdown, however, failed to deter people. Some 2,776kg of banned crackers were seized on Diwali while being clandestinely sold or supplied in some areas.
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