Post-Deepavali Air Pollution: The Failure of the 'Green Cracker' Compromise
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Environment & Ecology (Air Pollution, Pollutants - PM2.5, Air Quality Index - AQI, Green Crackers, Central Pollution Control Board - CPCB, Stubble Burning - implied); Governance (Role of Judiciary, Supreme Court Judgments); S&T (CSIR-NEERI).
Mains:
General Studies Paper 3 (Environment): "Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment." (This is a direct hit).
General Studies Paper 2 (Polity & Governance): "Role of Judiciary in governance"; "Government policies and interventions." (The SC's judgment and its implementation).
Essay: Topics on "Environment vs. Culture" or "Public Health vs. Livelihood."
Key Highlights from the News
Air pollution in Delhi reached its highest level in the last five years after Diwali. The level of **PM2.5** crossed 400 μg/m³.
According to the **Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)**, the **Air Quality Index (AQI)** in 16 cities across the country was in the "**'very poor'**" category on the day after Diwali.
The Supreme Court had allowed the use of **green crackers** with strict restrictions (from 8 PM to 10 PM).
However, the severe increase in pollution suggests that these rules were widely violated, or that the green crackers were not effective.
In addition to emissions from crackers, **meteorological factors** also aggravated the pollution.
The **low night-time temperatures** and **low wind speeds** on Diwali night caused smoke and other pollutants to remain trapped in the lower layer of the atmosphere (**poor atmospheric dispersion**).
Studies show that there has been no significant reduction in pollution despite the use of green crackers.
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