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Diwali fireworks could get worse air in Indian capital, despite less farm fires

Fireworks triggered throughout events for Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, could further get worse air quality in the Indian capital today, officials said on Tuesday, balancing out a reduction in burning of farm waste in nearby states.

Rated the world's most polluted capital by Swiss group IQAir for 4 years in a row, New Delhi was the world's second most contaminated city on Tuesday, the group's live rankings revealed, after Lahore in neighbouring Pakistan.

The occurrences of stubble burning are decreasing, but ... the smoke developed by firecrackers requires to be managed, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai told news firm ANI, calling for even more tracking of the burning of farm waste.

The yearly practice of burning crop stubble left after gathering paddy to clear fields for wheat planting is extensively blamed for harmful pollution in the region before winter, triggering interruptions such as school closures and construction curbs.

However individuals often flout Delhi's ban on smoke-emitting firecrackers, generally burnt in event of the celebration which runs from Wednesday to Friday this year, intensifying contamination.

Delhi's air quality was 273 on Tuesday, the Central Pollution Control panel's index revealed, far going beyond a ranking listed below 50 that is considered to be 'great'.

From Wednesday to Friday, the index is anticipated to be in ' very bad' area from 301 to 400, but might drop to 'severe'. in the index series of 401 to 500, fed by fumes from burning. firecrackers and waste fires, the earth sciences ministry stated.

Air quality is likely to be in the extremely bad to serious. category for six days from Saturday, the ministry added.

Farm fire events have actually fallen this year, however, the. farming ministry said, to stand down 35% in Punjab and 21%. in Haryana - both breadbasket states - compared to the. corresponding period in 2023.

Data from the earth sciences ministry showed that bristle. burning's contribution to pollution dropped in the last week, to. reach hardly 3% on Monday from 16% on Wednesday, with higher. contributions from other sources, such as lorries.

Last week, the Supreme Court urged authorities in Delhi and. adjoining states to deal with the hazardous air, stating living in a. pollution-free environment was a basic right.

(source: Reuters)