The Supreme Court on Friday has banned the sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR in order to keep the rising level of pollution in the region under check. According to the order, the licences of the existing firecrackers sellers will be suspended and the government will not issue new licences to any seller in this region.
However, there is no restriction on bursting crackers as it would be difficult to implement and monitor, the apex court has said.
The apex court has also ordered the Central Pollution Control Board to examine the harmful effects of the materials used in the firecrackers and submit the report within three months.
On Diwali night this year, PM 10 ranged from 448 (micrograms per cubic metre) g/m3 to 939 g/m3 in Delhi as against the national safe standard of 100 g/m3, Delhi Pollution Control Committee said. Diwali firecrackers in Delhi-NCR region this year pushed pollution level to a dangerous level, worst in three years.
A petition on Change.org seeking a blanket ban on firecrackers in Delhi was doing the rounds as it gathered over 14,000 signatures.
It may be noted that the Supreme Court had rejected a plea to ban firecrackers during Diwali in 2015 and pulled up the Centre for failing to spread awareness.
Sourced from agencies, Featured image courtesy: sify.com
