Pollution warning issued by the Indian government during Diwali

The time has come to act.

A belated happy Diwali to all our readers!

Diwali is the festival of light and joy.No Diwali is complete without candles, gifts, delectable food and getting together with family. However, Indians now need to start committing to a Diwali without fireworks.

Last Monday, HII did a story titled “What can be done about the health crisis caused by Delhi’s air pollution?”

A day before Diwali, the government issues a pollution warning, stating that the pollution levels were expected to be very high during Diwali in the national capital.The ministry’s monitoring agency forecasted a range from particulate matter (PM) 2.5 levels of 281-430 micrograms per cubic metre and PM10 of 620-965 micrograms per cubic meter as daily averages last Tuesday and Wednesday.The World Health Organization recommends that people are not exposed to PM2.5 level of 25 micrograms over any 24-hour period, due to the ability of the small particles to get deep into the lungs and even the bloodstream.

Air pollution in the city accounted for 10,000 to 30,000 deaths annually, according to a publication of the Delhi-based non-profit Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Parents of three toddlers living in the Indian capital approached the Supreme Court in September seeking a ban on firecrackers during festivals, saying their children had a right to be brought up in a pollution-free environment.

We would like to urge all metro citizens need to do their part in dealing with our serious pollution problem. Health professionals and organizations need to petition authorities to act and individuals must do their bit, be it by saying to no firecrackers on festivals, buying fewer cars and opting for car pools or and eco friendly technologies.