Toxic Firecracker

As Delhi woke up to poor air quality the morning after Diwali, Environment Minister Gopal Rai accused BJP leaders of pushing people to burst firecrackers despite the air emergency in the capital.

A thick blanket of toxic smog gripped Delhi and nearby cities for a second consecutive day today as the national capital region continued to suffer from a post-Diwali hangover.

As Delhi chokes under toxic air - courtesy thousands who defied government orders banning firecrackers this Diwali - Environment Minister Gopal Rai has lashed out at the BJP, accusing it of instigating people to "burst crackers on purpose".

The Delhi air quality index reading plummeted to "severe" category this morning, following the festival of Diwali as people violated the ban on firecrackers and the national capital woke up under a blanket of toxic smog.

Supreme Court has said the CBI report on use of toxic chemicals in manufacturing firecrackers is very serious and "prima facie" it appears that there has been violation of the court''s orders on use of barium and labelling of fireworks.

Pollution levels in the national capital shot up on Sunday and are expected to enter the "severe" category tonight due to firecracker emissions, unfavourable weather and a significant spike in stubble burning, according to government agencies.

Even as the national capital continued its battle with toxic air, several instances of firecracker bursting, before and after the time limit fixed by the top court, were observed in Delhi-NCR during New Year celebrations.

The Supreme Court today did not ban firecrackers but restricted its use to tackle concerns about deadly pollution in Delhi and other cities. The top court allowed "safe and green" crackers from 8 pm to 10 pm on Diwali, when fireworks add to toxic smog in Delhi, the world's most polluted city according to a WHO report. No "low-emission" firecrackers...

Tackling environmental pollution, such as the haze that has enveloped Delhi, calls for an "all-encompassing approach" over and above measures such as a ban on firecrackers and controlling the volume of vehicles on the roads, a top UN official said today.

As Delhi's air quality plunges ahead of Diwali, a graded response plan kicked in on Tuesday that lets authorities respond to a spike in toxic air with restrictions. As the first step, the powerful Supreme Court-appointed pollution watchdog ordered the coal-fired Badarpur power station in south Delhi to be shut and banned diesel-based power generati...

New Delhi was shrouded in a thick blanket of toxic smog Monday after millions of Indians lit firecrackers to mark the Diwali festival, with authorities reporting record levels of pollution in parts of the capital.

The Delhi government on Tuesday ordered a crackdown on illegally imported toxic firecrackers during Diwali and enforcement of Supreme Court's directions banning bursting of crackers after 10 pm.

Diwali, the festival of lights, is a festival of noise and smoke in Delhi, thanks to the extensive use of firecrackers that adds tonnes of toxic smoke to the city's air.

Thick smoke hung over New Delhi this week as millions of citizens lit firecrackers to mark Diwali, but calls for a boycott highlighted growing concerns over air quality in one of the world's most polluted cities.

As Delhi woke up to poor air quality the morning after Diwali, Environment Minister Gopal Rai accused BJP leaders of pushing people to burst firecrackers despite the air emergency in the capital.

A thick blanket of toxic smog gripped Delhi and nearby cities for a second consecutive day today as the national capital region continued to suffer from a post-Diwali hangover.

As Delhi chokes under toxic air - courtesy thousands who defied government orders banning firecrackers this Diwali - Environment Minister Gopal Rai has lashed out at the BJP, accusing it of instigating people to "burst crackers on purpose".

The Delhi air quality index reading plummeted to "severe" category this morning, following the festival of Diwali as people violated the ban on firecrackers and the national capital woke up under a blanket of toxic smog.

Supreme Court has said the CBI report on use of toxic chemicals in manufacturing firecrackers is very serious and "prima facie" it appears that there has been violation of the court''s orders on use of barium and labelling of fireworks.

Pollution levels in the national capital shot up on Sunday and are expected to enter the "severe" category tonight due to firecracker emissions, unfavourable weather and a significant spike in stubble burning, according to government agencies.

Even as the national capital continued its battle with toxic air, several instances of firecracker bursting, before and after the time limit fixed by the top court, were observed in Delhi-NCR during New Year celebrations.

The Supreme Court today did not ban firecrackers but restricted its use to tackle concerns about deadly pollution in Delhi and other cities. The top court allowed "safe and green" crackers from 8 pm to 10 pm on Diwali, when fireworks add to toxic smog in Delhi, the world's most polluted city according to a WHO report. No "low-emission" firecrackers...

Tackling environmental pollution, such as the haze that has enveloped Delhi, calls for an "all-encompassing approach" over and above measures such as a ban on firecrackers and controlling the volume of vehicles on the roads, a top UN official said today.

As Delhi's air quality plunges ahead of Diwali, a graded response plan kicked in on Tuesday that lets authorities respond to a spike in toxic air with restrictions. As the first step, the powerful Supreme Court-appointed pollution watchdog ordered the coal-fired Badarpur power station in south Delhi to be shut and banned diesel-based power generati...

New Delhi was shrouded in a thick blanket of toxic smog Monday after millions of Indians lit firecrackers to mark the Diwali festival, with authorities reporting record levels of pollution in parts of the capital.

The Delhi government on Tuesday ordered a crackdown on illegally imported toxic firecrackers during Diwali and enforcement of Supreme Court's directions banning bursting of crackers after 10 pm.

Diwali, the festival of lights, is a festival of noise and smoke in Delhi, thanks to the extensive use of firecrackers that adds tonnes of toxic smoke to the city's air.

Thick smoke hung over New Delhi this week as millions of citizens lit firecrackers to mark Diwali, but calls for a boycott highlighted growing concerns over air quality in one of the world's most polluted cities.