Despite campaigns, pollution levels alarming: CSE report

Despite continuous campaigns against bursting firecrackers, on Diwali, the city saw an alarming rise in pollution level as a huge percentage of people burst crackers. According to a CSE report, the areas most affected were East Delhi and Old Delhi where maximum impact due to burning of crackers were felt, the exposure limit to the particles going up to the levels of 1,500 to 2,500 microgrammes. Air quality plunged to “severe” level with pollutants rising a whopping 20 times in certain areas. The CSE report says on Diwali at 8.30 p.m. Mayur Vihar Phase I recorded an hourly average level as high as 1,763 microgramme per cubic metre. In Patparganj, it rose to 2114 microgramme per cubic metre. At Laxmi Nagar, the exposure peaks were about 2,640 between 10.15 pm and 11.15 pm, and in Old Delhi 2,654 microgramme per cubic metre after 11.30 pm.