Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay | As Toxic Air Chokes Delhi, Will We Learn Any Lessons?

For over three decades, since when awareness about this gained currency, people and the government, courts, doctors, media and environmental scientists played their roles in setting rules, issuing orders and mounting campaigns to educate people on harmful effects, on health, as well as the environment, of the excessive bursting of crackers

xParadoxically, in large parts of north India, Diwali -- also called the Festival of Lights -- heralds, give or take a week or fortnight, the beginning of the season when practically the entire region gets shrouded in depressing grey smog. For weeks, the pall of gloom filters sunlight and the sound of hesitant to wracking coughs of people, a constant reminder to all-pervading toxicity. It is turning out no different this year.

For over three decades, s