The Hindu festival of lights is now a little darker.
India’s Supreme Court banned the sale of firecrackers in New Delhi, an integral part of the Diwali holiday. Critics compared it to banning trees at Christmas.
The Supreme Court isn’t just being a grinch. New Dehli is plagued by suffocating pollution, and the firecrackers pollute the city’s already toxic air.
Last year, air pollution in the city was 20 times higher than accepted levels. Half of the city’s children suffer lung damage due to the smog. After last year’s Diwali, the air was so bad that schools and construction sites were forced to close. So maybe this year, sacrificing firecrackers is worth it to make the lights shine a little brighter.
Subscribe to Vocativ:
Find us everywhere else:
:
:
:
Snapchat:
Website:
Vocativ explores the nexus of media and technology, where science meets storytelling. We use proprietary technology to examine the uncharted space of the Deep Web, covering topics that are vital to our changing world. us for more!
