New Delhi (NVI): The National Green Tribunal (NGT) today announced complete ban on sale and use of all kinds of firecrackers in the Delhi and adjoining areas.
The ban will come into effective from November 9 midnight till November 30 in wake of the rising air pollution levels.
However, the decision comes amid festive season when the sale of firecrackers is at its peak.
The NGT has also directed that the order on ban of firecrackers will also apply to all those cities or towns where the air quality during November falls under the poor or worse than poor category.
“The cities/towns where air quality is ‘moderate’ or below, only green crackers be sold and the timings for use and bursting of crackers be restricted to two hours during festivals, like Diwali, Chhath, New Year/Christmas Eve as may be specified by the State,” NGT said.
Apart from this, the Haryana government, following the NGT announcement, also restricted bursting firecrackers from 8 pm to 10 pm on some festivals including Diwali and Christmas.
The tribunal further said that it may have to consider directions to prohibit the use of firecrackers during the period when air quality is beyond a threshold to protect the health of the vulnerable groups.
Earlier on November 2, the NGT had issued a notice to the Ministry of Environment and the governments of Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan on whether the use of firecrackers be banned from November 7-30 in the interest of public health and environment.
Furthermore, Delhi Police yesterday took to twitter and said that all licences issued for the sale of firecrackers in the national capital have been suspended and further action will be taken on National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) directions.
-RJV
