Former NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant argued in the Supreme Court on Tuesday that he preferred the “right to burn crackers to the right to live and breathe”. He stressed the importance of a “unified” action plan to bring Delhi’s air pollution under control, with the national capital’s Air Quality Index (AQI) climbing to the “severe” category a day after Diwali.
The Supreme Court recently struck down the blanket ban on firecrackers and allowed burning of green crackers for two hours on the occasion of Diwali. This resulted in fireworks across the city on Monday, but Tuesday saw apocalyptic skies with air quality dropping to dangerous levels.
“Delhi’s air quality is in shambles: 36/38 monitoring stations hit ‘red zone’, AQI is over 400 in key areas. Hon. Supreme Court in its wisdom has prioritized right to burn crackers over right to live and breathe,” wrote Amitabh Kant in a post on X.
The 2023 G20 Sherpa endorsed “reckless and sustained implementation” of plans to control air pollution in Delhi.
“Delhi remains one of the most polluted capitals in the world. If Los Angles, Beijing and London can do it, why can’t Delhi? Only ruthless and sustained executions can save Delhi from this health and environmental disaster.”
Delhi AQI: What did Amitabh Kant suggest?
Amitabh Kant suggested a number of steps to control Delhi’s AQI, especially during Diwali.
To bring Delhi’s air pollution levels under control, he said, “a unified action plan is vital”.
He proposed to “end the burning of crops and biomass, close or upgrade thermal power plants and brick kilns with cleaner technologies, move all transport to electric by 2030, enforce strict control of construction dust, ensure full segregation and treatment of waste, and remake Delhi into a green, walkable and transport-oriented housing.”
“Only such decisive and relentless execution can restore the city’s blue sky and breathable air,” Kant wrote on X.
Delhi AQI worsens after Diwali
Delhi’s AQI dipped into the ‘severe’ category today and residents woke up to a thick gray haze darkening the city’s skies after many celebrated Diwali the night before, defying the Supreme Court’s 2-hour deadline.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) bulletin, Delhi’s AQI stood at 359 in the ‘very poor’ category at 11 am today. It was 352 at 8am, 346 at 5am, 347 at 6am and 351 at 7am.
An AQI between 0 and 50 is “good”, 51 and 100 “satisfactory”, 101 and 200 “moderate”, 201 and 300 “poor”, 301 and 400 “very poor”, and 401 and 500 “severe”.
As many as 35 of the 38 monitoring stations were in the “red zone” after Diwali in Delhi, indicating “very poor” to “severe” air quality.
While 31 AQI monitoring stations were in the ‘very poor’ category, four were in the ‘severe’ category, CPCB’s SAMEER app said.
Jahangirpuri recorded an AQI of 409, Wazirpur 408, Bawana 432 and Burari 405 — all in the “severe” category, according to the app, which provides real-time AQI readings.
