Assessment of ambient air quality during Diwali (year 2023)

An analysis by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has revealed a substantial rise in fine particulate matter on Diwali, with a 45 per cent increase in PM2.5 and a 33 per cent increase in PM10, compared to the previous year. The DPCC’s report emphasised that nearly all air quality monitoring stations in the national Capital recorded heightened pollution levels on this Diwali in comparison to the previous year. The air quality of the city on Sunday witnessed a notable 33 per cent overall increase in the average concentration of PM10 in 2023 as compared to 2022. Conversely, there was a substantial 42 per cent reduction in the city's average PM10 concentration in 2023 compared to the levels observed in 2021.