Pollution Knows No Season – Let’s Target the Cause, Not the Culture!

Paromita Das

GG News Bureau

New Delhi, 5^th November. Diwali, the festival of lights, has increasingly become a focal point in discussions around air pollution in Bharat, particularly in Delhi, where pollution levels surge each autumn. Mainstream media, politicians, and environmentalists have often singled out Diwali celebrations—especially the use of firecrackers—as the primary culprit for Delhi’s rising Air Quality Index (AQI) during the season. But as we examine more closely, it’s apparent that Diwali fireworks are not solely responsible for Delhi’s poor air quality. Numerous other factors—namely, agricultural stubble burning, adverse climatic conditions, and emissions from year-round industrial and vehicular activity—are significantly impactful yet largely ignored in the media spotlight.

The Real Contributors to Air Pollution: Stubble Burning and AQI Spikes

Every year as the harvest season wraps up in North Bharat, farmers burn crop stubble to quickly clear fields for the next planting. This method of field preparation, although cost-effective, has severe repercussions for air quality across the northern plains. In 2022, a study from IIT Delhi found that biomass burning, especially from stubble, was the primary driver of poor air quality in the region during the Diwali season. According to this research, while Diwali fireworks do cause a temporary spike in pollutants, this impact is short-lived, typically dissipating within 12 hours after the celebrations.

In contrast, stubble burning emissions increase PM2.5 levels steadily and more substantially, with lasting impacts on air quality. For instance, on October 31, 2024—the day of Diwali—Punjab reported 484 stubble-burning cases, the highest for a single day that year. Data from the Punjab Pollution Control Board indicated a surge in PM2.5 contributions due to biomass burning, with levels soaring from 8.4% the day before Diwali to 27.61% on Diwali itself. Stubble burning often peaks during Diwali, but the public attention remains fixated on the festival, allowing the larger issue of agricultural pollution to go unnoticed by mainstream media.

The Role of Climate and Thermal Inversion in AQI Spikes

Another overlooked factor contributing to the severe air quality in Delhi during Diwali season is the region’s unique climatic and geographical conditions. Diwali typically falls between late October and early November, when Delhi’s cooler weather exacerbates pollution through a phenomenon known as thermal inversion. Normally, warm air rises, dispersing pollutants in the atmosphere. However, during thermal inversion, a layer of warm air traps cooler, polluted air near the ground, leading to heightened pollutant concentrations.

This natural occurrence worsens Delhi’s air quality and reduces the rate at which pollutants disperse. The presence of calm weather conditions further prevents the natural ventilation of air, which could otherwise alleviate pollution levels. Consequently, pollution from various sources, including stubble burning and industrial emissions, becomes trapped, creating smog and raising AQI levels. While media reports often attribute these effects to Diwali fireworks, the underlying climatic factors receive little attention.

The Historical and Environmental Costs of the Green Revolution

The problem of stubble burning has its roots in the agricultural practices introduced during Bharat’s Green Revolution of the late 1960s and 1970s. This period saw a shift towards high-yield crop varieties and mechanized farming, which left sharp stubble behind after harvest. Farmers, pressed for time and resources, turned to burning this residue as a quick and cheap method of clearing their fields. Despite growing awareness of its environmental impact, stubble burning remains prevalent due to limited alternatives and lack of government support for sustainable field management practices.

The Politicization of Diwali Pollution and Media Bias

Over the years, Diwali has increasingly come under scrutiny from politicians and social activists who place the blame for Delhi’s AQI on the festival’s firecrackers. Diwali’s association with pollution has fed into a broader narrative that overlooks other significant sources of pollution and focuses instead on a culturally significant Hindu festival.

This bias creates a perception of selective outrage, where other pollution sources—such as stubble burning, vehicle emissions, and industrial discharge—escape public scrutiny. The resulting narrative often gives the impression that environmental concerns are secondary to cultural biases against Hindu traditions. This selective outrage not only alienates the Hindu community but also distracts from actionable measures that could effectively tackle pollution on a larger scale.

Public and Policy Solutions for Long-Term Air Quality Improvement

Bharat’s pollution problem, particularly in Delhi, requires comprehensive and year-round action rather than seasonal blame. Policy measures could include:

1. Enhanced Support for Farmers: Government initiatives could focus on providing affordable alternatives to stubble burning, such as subsidies for crop residue management equipment, composting facilities, or biofuel production plants.
2. Stricter Industrial and Vehicular Emission Controls: Tackling industrial and vehicular pollution requires stronger regulation, pollution-control technologies, and the promotion of green energy sources.
3. Investment in Air Quality Infrastructure: Building more real-time AQI monitoring stations, advancing predictive pollution models, and improving public awareness can help mitigate pollution impact.
4. Educational Campaigns and Community Involvement: The government, environmental organizations, and local communities should come together to educate the public about the diverse sources of pollution and to foster collaborative solutions.

Conclusion

While Diwali celebrations, particularly fireworks, do contribute temporarily to air pollution in Delhi, attributing the city’s air quality crisis solely to this festival is misleading. The reality is far more complex, with stubble burning, thermal inversion, vehicular emissions, and industrial activities playing significant roles. Addressing these issues demands a balanced and unbiased approach from policymakers and media, one that acknowledges the various contributors to pollution without unfairly targeting cultural practices.

The annual criticism of Diwali celebrations is emblematic of a selective outrage that often undermines genuine environmental advocacy. To meaningfully address air pollution, the conversation needs to shift from seasonal blame games to holistic, data-driven solutions. Pollution is a year-round issue, not one that peaks merely with the lighting of Diwali lamps and fireworks. If real progress is to be made in improving air quality, environmental activists, politicians, and the media must consider the entirety of the problem—including stubble burning, vehicular emissions, and industrial activities—and work towards sustainable, long-term solutions rather than seasonal critiques.

The pollution issue will not be resolved by limiting festivals but through innovative solutions, sustainable practices, and an all-encompassing commitment to environmental health. The real victory against pollution will come when we address its root causes, unifying around common solutions rather than dividing over cultural traditions.