New Delhi moves schools online as air quality worsens before Diwali

Schools move online as air quality deteriorates

Air quality in New Delhi and the surrounding areas worsened quickly on Friday, 6 November, prompting authorities to order schools in the region to hold online classes. The Commission for Air Quality Management imposed restrictions that day under a graded action plan, which tightens curbs as pollution levels rise. Friday's readings vary by source. The Central Pollution Control Board recorded an air quality index of 382, BBC reported 391 on Friday morning, and The Independent cited 387, with 28 monitoring stations recording "severe" levels. The commission also urged the governments of New Delhi and neighbouring areas to let companies and government agencies send half their staff to work from home.

Forecasts point to worse air before Diwali

The commission's Friday order said unfavourable weather had driven the decline and that forecasts pointed to the air reaching the "severe" category in the coming days. Delhi's environment minister, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, said in a statement that conditions would worsen from the next day, as winds would stop completely. Diwali falls on Sunday, 8 November, and the festival is traditionally marked with firecrackers that add to smoke already trapped by cold air, crop residue burning and construction dust. BBC reported fears that pollution could rise further after the celebrations. Last year, the morning after the festival brought a toxic haze, with PM2.5 levels 25 to 30 times above WHO safe limits, according to The Independent.

Green firecrackers and the Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Monday, 2 November, allowed certified "green" firecrackers to be made, sold and used in Delhi and surrounding areas for a limited period, including two days during Diwali. BBC reports these are designed to produce 20-30% less emissions than conventional fireworks. Scientists and doctors remain sceptical about the real-world difference, and critics question whether conventional firecrackers will still reach the capital from neighbouring states. The court described its decision as a temporary measure last year. A bench headed by chief justice BR Gavai explained the balance it had to strike:

“We're called upon to balance the interests of both the industry and the health of the general public, especially the aged, the ill and the infants”

The court has also said that a blanket ban imposed seven years ago proved ineffective because illegal fireworks kept being smuggled into the capital.

Winter plan and long-term health costs

The Delhi government announced its Winter Action Plan months before the smog arrived, and it runs from 1 November to 28 February. The plan restricts entry of older, more polluting vehicles registered outside Delhi and denies fuel to vehicles without a certificate showing they meet emission standards. BBC describes the plan as a step in the right direction but says it will not be enough alone. The governing Bharatiya Janata Party promised to tackle pollution during its election campaign last year, and the plan is now a test of that pledge. According to a report by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago, cited by The Independent, air pollution cuts residents' life expectancy by an average of 11.9 years compared with WHO guidelines.

Diwali begins under the haze

Millions across India were set to celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights, with oil lamps, lights and fireworks. IQAir rated Delhi's air "very unhealthy" on Thursday, 5 November, with an average PM2.5 concentration of 157.9 micrograms per cubic metre, against the WHO's annual recommended limit of no more than 5 micrograms. In Mumbai, the air quality index reached 322 on 24 October and improved to 104, a moderate level, on Friday, 6 November, though concerns remain that fireworks could trigger another spike.