Hey, did you hear the news? Delhi's Environment Minister, Gopal Rai, just announced a ban on all fireworks during Diwali and throughout the winter season to tackle the rising pollution levels.

The ban covers the sale, storage, manufacture, and online delivery of all types of fireworks.

Delhi's air quality tends to worsen during winter, so this ban aims to address the issue. The winter action plan will be unveiled on October 1.

Rai pointed out that the rampant use of fireworks during Diwali turns the city into a "gas chamber," enveloping it in thick smoke. Previous attempts to limit fireworks usage, such as allowing only green crackers, have been undermined by the availability of various types of fireworks in the market.

While there has been a consistent decrease in pollution levels over the years, with a 42% reduction in average PM10 levels and a 46% dip in PM2.5 levels since 2014, Rai stressed that even these levels are not within safe standards. This year's preemptive ban is aimed at further improving Delhi's air quality during the critical winter months.

Let's hope this helps improve the air quality even further! 🎉🎇