Every year, as October and November roll in, Delhi chokes under a thick blanket of smog. The government's first response is predictable — a ban on firecrackers during Diwali. But is this really enough to save the city from its worsening air crisis?

Experts say the reasons are deeper. Firecrackers may make headlines during Diwali, but they are only a temporary reason for the city's air pollution.

“There is no doubt that air quality depends on meteorological conditions. But, controlling toxic pollutants like dust and gases also helps,” said D Saha, former head of the air pollution laboratory at the Central Pollution Control Board.

“We must work to reduce toxicity by curtailing different sources of pollution or emissions at the ground level,” he told The Times of India in 2023.

“Delhi-NCR

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