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With pollution levels crossing the dangerous mark in the city, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia today called a high-level meeting will all departments concerned to discuss steps to combat it on a ‘war footing’. The meeting will be held at the Delhi Secretariat where all ministers and officials concerned will discuss a plan to bring down rising air pollution.

Delhi: The Delhi Government's anti-firecracker campaign went up in smoke on Diwali night. With just a slight dip in fireworks but more adverse weather than last year, Diwali celebrations exposed Delhiites to alarmingly high pollution levels.

Delhi's killer air - it's now everyday dinner table conversation in the capital. That's because we're all affected by it. For those with respiratory illnesses, it's an absolute nightmare. According to one study, Delhi's air pollution levels have gone so high in the last 10 days that just breathing the toxic air of Delhi right now is like smoking 14 cigarettes a day. Today, Delhi's Health Minister Satyendra Jain came up with a unique proposal. The AAP government is going to install air purifiers and mist fountains at major intersections in the city.

For those living in the national capital and other big cities, the day after Diwali has been a breathless one. According to the Centre for Science and Environment, in Delhi, Diwali pollution has not just worsened this year, but is also more toxic. Figures show that the deadly PM 2.5, which are tiny particles that penetrate the lungs, were nearly 40 times above the safe level. Low wind speeds have added to the problem. This is a public health emergency, but are we serious about tackling pollution?

Temperatures are falling, Diwali is around the corner and in many parts of the country people are finding it difficult to breathe. Delhi is choked, full of smog, dust and smoke as a result of crop burning in Punjab but if we think this is bad, what is Diwali and its burst of chemical laden firecrackers going to bring?

Over the past few days Delhi’s Air Quality Index is at levels considered hazardous. As the capital city gears up to celebrate Diwali we are debating what can be done to clean-up Delhi’s air.

These NASA image explains why it's getting difficult to breathe in Delhi

Delhi’s air quality took a turn for the worse Tuesday as the particulate matter 2.5 (PM 2.5) levels shot up during the hot and humid day. The National Air Quality Index showed that the air quality was poor at R K Puram and Mandir Marg, very poor at Punjabi Bagh, and severe at Anand Vihar for most of the day.

Three toddlers, all aged between six and 14 months, have moved the Supreme Court asking for a ban on firecrackers, saying that the Top Court needs to take urgent measures to bring down Delhi's 'fatal' pollution levels. Their parents tell us that leaving India, or at least Delhi, seems like a better option than breathing in the city's toxic air. Is it high time there was a blanket ban on firecrackers and are firecrackers all that need looking into? We debate, on Agenda.

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