- Published
Delhi is once again battling worsening air pollution as the onset of winter brings a familiar deterioration in air quality.
asserted
onset → publish → quality
The city's Air Quality Index (AQI) - which measures PM2.5, fine particulate matter that can clog lungs - has crossed 300, entering the "very poor" category and raising health concerns for millions of residents.
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that → measure → residents
Breathing such polluted air over prolonged periods can cause respiratory problems and worsen existing illnesses, with children and older people particularly vulnerable.
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children → breathe → illnesses
Authorities have responded by invoking Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), introducing measures to curb dust, vehicle emissions and other sources of pollution.
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Authorities → respond → pollution
Delhi and neighbouring parts of northern India grapple with hazardous air every winter, particularly around Diwali, one of India's biggest festivals, which is just days away.
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which → neighbour → festivals
The festival is celebrated with lights, lamps and fireworks, which often worsen the city's already poor air quality by releasing fine particles and harmful gases into the atmosphere.
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which → celebrate → atmosphere
The annual pollution crisis is driven by a combination of factors, including vehicle exhaust, industrial emissions, falling temperatures, low wind speeds and the burning of crop stubble in neighbouring states.
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crisis → drive → states
The sharp rise in pollution follows an unusually clean October, when Delhi recorded its lowest average AQI for the month in eight years.
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Delhi → follow → years
Experts have attributed the sudden deterioration to falling temperatures, slow winds and an increase in crop-residue burning in the neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana.
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Experts → attribute → Punjab
A recent storm had brought rain and stronger winds, helping clear the air.
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storm → bring → air
But as the weather settled, north-westerly winds returned, carrying smoke from burning fields towards the capital.
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winds → settle → capital
India's pollution watchdog classifies AQI readings between 301 and 400 as "very poor", while anything above 400 is considered "severe".
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anything → classify → 400
On Wednesday morning, Delhi's AQI stood at 377.
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AQI → stand → 377
The index takes into account eight major pollutants, including PM2.5 - tiny particles about 30 times smaller than the width of a human hair that can penetrate deep into the lungs.
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that → take → lungs
With Diwali just days away, there are concerns that fireworks could push pollution levels even higher.
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fireworks → be → levels
Last year, Delhi woke up to a toxic haze the morning after the festival, despite a court directive to use less-polluting firecrackers.
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Delhi → wake → firecrackers
Authorities have imposed restrictions on firecrackers over the years, including outright bans on their manufacture, sale and use, but enforcing them has proved difficult.
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enforcing → impose → them
On Monday, India's Supreme Court allowed the manufacture, sale and use of certified green firecrackers in Delhi and neighbouring areas for a limited period.
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Court → allow → period
It said the crackers could be set off only between 06:00 and 07:00 local time (00:30-01:30 GMT) and between 20:00 and 22:00 (14:30-16:30 GMT) on 7 and 8 November, during the Diwali weekend.
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crackers → say → weekend
The court also banned fireworks within 300m of hospitals, care homes, schools and other designated silence zones.
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court → ban → hospitals
Green firecrackers use modified chemical formulations designed to produce fewer emissions than conventional fireworks.
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firecrackers → use → fireworks
They must carry QR codes that allow buyers and authorities to verify details of their manufacturer and certification.
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buyers → carry → manufacturer
But ensuring that only approved firecrackers are sold remains a major challenge.
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firecrackers → ensure → ?
In its latest order, the Supreme Court acknowledged that conventional firecrackers had continued to be sold as green alternatives, even when a complete ban was in place.
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ban → acknowledge → place
It has directed police to patrol designated sales areas, carry out random QR-code checks and seize illegal firecrackers.
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It → direct → firecrackers
During particularly severe pollution episodes, Delhi authorities have also introduced measures such as hybrid schooling, work-from-home arrangements and restrictions on certain vehicles.
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authorities → introduce → vehicles
The problem is not confined to the capital.
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problem → confine → capital
Mumbai, India's financial hub, has also recorded elevated pollution levels over the past month, despite benefiting from coastal winds that typically help disperse pollutants.
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that → record → pollutants
On 24 October, Mumbai's AQI had reached 322, placing it in the "very poor" category.
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AQI → reach → category
The spike was attributed to a combination of low wind speeds, construction dust, garbage burning, firecracker emissions and pollutants carried from neighbouring regions.
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spike → attribute → regions
The city's air quality has improved in recent days - and it recorded an AQI of 89, classified as "satisfactory", on Wednesday.
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it → improve → Wednesday
Neighbouring Navi Mumbai recorded a "moderate" AQI of 118.
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Mumbai → neighbour → 118
The improvement follows nearly two weeks of smoggy conditions, with residents sharing photos and videos of the haze on social media.
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residents → follow → media
The Aporia
