According to environment minister Gopal Rai, Delhi experienced its greatest post-festival air quality in five years on Tuesday, with pollution levels 30% lower than they were on Diwali last year.

In comparison to last year, when the air quality index (AQI) was 462 and it was 323 on Tuesday (the day after Diwali), 'air pollution reduced by nearly 30%,' he claimed.

The minister stated that the AQI for the day following Diwali in each of the previous three years was 390, 368, and 435.

'I want to thank the people of Delhi for their extraordinary kindness during Diwali. Today, the pollution level is at its lowest point in the past five years.' Rai told reporters as he signalled 150 portable anti-smog rifles during a ceremony. According to him, water will be sprayed by anti-smog cannons in regions with significant levels of air pollution. Ten of these anti-smog weapons were introduced last year. According to the minister, there has been a 30% decrease in pollution levels over the previous year.

The Delhi government, which has been doing this for the past two years, had in September reinstated a total ban on the manufacture, sale, and use of all kinds of firecrackers till January 1. Last week, Rai stated that setting off fireworks on Diwali in Delhi might result in a six-month jail sentence and a fine of Rs 200. The AQI of 323 is still concerning and indicates that air pollution would worsen amid the upcoming cold weather, he said.

He added that without assistance from the Center, the Punjabi administration managed stubble burning in the state.

Punjab reported 1,019 incidences of stubble burning on Diwali day (Monday), down from 3,032 incidents on Diwali the year before. In Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, there were 228 and 123 farm fires on Diwali of last year, and there have been 250 and 215 this year. This demonstrates that farm fires have grown in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh while declining in Punjab, he said.

Over the years, emissions from farm fires and firecrackers have played a key role in the Diwali PM2.5 pollution in Delhi.

On Diwali in 2021, 32% in 2020, and 19% in 2019, farm fires accounted for 25% of Delhi's PM2.5 pollution. Farm fires contributed 25% to the PM2.5 pollution in Delhi on Diwali in 2021, 32% in 2020, and 19% in 2019.

Experts claim that because Diwali fell early in the season this year, relatively warm and windier weather conditions helped to lessen the impact of stubble burning and minimise the rapid accumulation of pollution from firecracker explosions.

Diwali was observed on November 4 in 2021 and on November 14 in 2020, both days with exceptionally low temperatures and calm breezes.