Delhi's air quality better this Diwali than last year
Delhi's air quality has improved a bit this year—the average AQI dropped to 175 from last year's 189.
Officials say this is thanks to lower levels of harmful particles (PM2.5 and PM10), which both saw noticeable drops.
Less crop burning nearby
A big reason: less crop burning nearby. Punjab and Haryana saw huge drops in farm fire incidents this season, which is expected to contribute to better air quality in Delhi.
The city also tackled old landfill waste and ramped up waste-to-energy projects, giving the air some breathing room.
Other measures taken to improve air quality
Delhi installed more cameras and methane detectors at landfills, planted over four crore saplings across NCR, and kept tough anti-pollution rules in place—like banning BS-III and below commercial goods vehicles since November.
Almost all industries have switched to cleaner fuels, with over 1,500 non-compliant factories shut down.
So while it's not perfect yet, things are heading in a better direction.