The National Green Court (NGT) has imposed a blanket ban on the sale and use of firecrackers in the National Capital of Delhi (NCR) region from midnight on November 9 to November 30.
In a 58-page order, which was issued on Monday, the NGT has said the ban would apply to all cities or towns in the country, where the average ambient air quality during November, based on data available from last year , fall into the “poor” or “very poor” category.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) between 201 and 300 and between 301 and 400 is considered in the category of “bad” and “very bad”, respectively.
In cities or towns, where the AQI is “moderate” – between 101 and 200 – or less, only the sale of green cookies will be allowed.
The hours for the use and explosion of firecrackers would be limited to just two hours during festivals such as Diwali, which would be celebrated on Saturday (November 14), as specified by the state, according to the order.
In other states, the ban and restrictions would be optional, he added.
The Chief Clerks and Directors General of Police (DGP) of all states and union territories (UT) have been directed to distribute an appropriate order and enforcement guidelines to all district magistrates (DM) and police superintendents. (SP), pollution control boards etc, said the order.
The court ordered the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and state pollution control boards to regularly monitor the AQI between November 9 and November 30 and upload the recorded data to their respective websites.
CPCB would compile information on the issue, including the status of compliance with this order from all states and UT, he added.
“Taking into account the greater adverse health impact of contamination from the use of crackers in the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), aggravating the risk to life and health that has led to the ban by the governments of Odisha, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Chandigarh (UT), Delhi Pollution Control Committee and by the Calcutta high court on the sale and use of firecrackers, applying the principles of ‘sustainable development’ and ‘precaution’, a case is presented to issue instructions to prohibit the sale and use of firecrackers between November 9 and 30… ”the order said.
The court ordered the ban while listening to allegations against the firecracker outbreak during Diwali due to its potential to exacerbate the severity of the Covid-19 outbreak in the country.
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