Delhi has 38 air quality monitors, but their placement leaves out 65% of the national capital without reliable air quality estimates.

Central Pollution Control Board data show concentrations of the dangerous gas peaking at IGI Airport and ITO; experts warn of increased respiratory risks.

Several government-run open-access websites that publish real time monitoring of air quality were unavailable for several hours during peak firecracker time on Diwali day

If rationality and data take a backseat, the courts hesitate to take reasonable decisions, and a government which must prioritise public health does the opposite, then democracy – which is about accountability to the people and the well-being of all – also suffers.

In 2024, the Supreme Court had said, “If firecrackers are burst in this fashion, it affects the fundamental right to health of citizens.” 

In 2024, the Supreme Court had said, “If firecrackers are burst in this fashion, it affects the fundamental right to health of citizens.” 

A recent study suggested that pollution markets may be more effective than regulating air pollution. But these markets are still in their infancy and cannot, in their current form, replace regulating pollution levels and penalising industries.

This “hazardous” situation has emerged due to our inability to curb pollution from perennial sources, an air quality scientist told The Wire.