32% Delhi-NCR families likely to burn firecrackers this Diwali despite ban: Survey

PTC News Desk: Around 32 percent of families in Delhi plan to burst firecrackers, while 43% are hesitant due to pollution concerns, suggests a survey conducted by a community social media platform.

According to a Localcircles survey of over 9,000 residents of Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, and Faridabad, 32% of families in the Delhi-NCR are likely to light firecrackers this Diwali despite a ban on their sale and use.

Pollution levels in Delhi-NCR were seven to eight times higher than the government's safe limit on Monday morning, as a toxic haze persisted over the region for the seventh consecutive day.

According to the survey, many residents believe that stubble burning in neighbouring states is the primary cause of increased air pollution in Delhi-NCR from late October to early November.

"As per reports, the sale of firecrackers is not prohibited in neighbouring states such as Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. In the last few years, residents of Delhi were seen procuring crackers from these states," the survey says.

According to the survey report, the situation poses a significant challenge to the administration because their "inability to find a long-term solution to stubble burning in neighbouring states over the past decade has harmed their credibility." "As a result, stringent enforcement of the cracker ban, coupled with an increased awareness campaign will be essential to control cracker burning this Diwali," it added.

According to the survey, previous years' data have shown a significant increase in air quality index (AQI) levels the day after Diwali, with an increase of 100-300 points compared to the previous day.