News Analysis India

Tag: Firecrackers

  • MP woman killed as steel shards pierce her after bursting cracker by putting steel box on it

    By PTI

    MANDSAUR: A 19-year-old woman died after pieces of steel pierced her body when she burst a firecracker by keeping a tiffin box upside down on it in Madhya Pradesh’s Mandsaur district on Wednesday, police said.

    The incident occurred at Karju village when the victim was bursting crackers outside her house, said Bhaugarh police station in-charge Arvind Singh Rathore.

    “The young woman put a steel tiffin-box upside down on ‘sutli bomb’ (firecracker made of jute twine) after lighting it. However, as the cracker burst, it shattered the steel box into pieces and its splinters entered her body, including the stomach,” he said.

    She was rushed to the district hospital, where doctors declared her dead, he said.

    MANDSAUR: A 19-year-old woman died after pieces of steel pierced her body when she burst a firecracker by keeping a tiffin box upside down on it in Madhya Pradesh’s Mandsaur district on Wednesday, police said.

    The incident occurred at Karju village when the victim was bursting crackers outside her house, said Bhaugarh police station in-charge Arvind Singh Rathore.

    “The young woman put a steel tiffin-box upside down on ‘sutli bomb’ (firecracker made of jute twine) after lighting it. However, as the cracker burst, it shattered the steel box into pieces and its splinters entered her body, including the stomach,” he said.

    She was rushed to the district hospital, where doctors declared her dead, he said.

  • Communal clash over bursting of firecrackers on Diwali in Vadodara; 19 people detained 

    By PTI

    VADODARA: Members of two communities clashed over the bursting of firecrackers in a locality in Gujarat’s Vadodara city on Diwali following which police detained 19 people from the two sides, an official said on Tuesday.

    The clash broke out at around 12.45 am on Tuesday in the communally sensitive Panigate locality.

    Those detained included a person who allegedly hurled a petrol bomb at policemen from the third floor of this house in the locality nearly an hour after the clash broke out, Vadodara Deputy Commissioner of Police Yashpal Jaganiya told PTI.

    No one was injured in the clash, he said, adding that a motorcycle parked in the area caught fire after a rocket firecracker fell on it.

    “Following an issue over the bursting of firecrackers and hurling rocket bombs at each other, people from two communities pelted stones at each other,” the official said.

    After the incident, security was deployed in the area and the situation was under control, he said.

    Suspects from both the communities were being rounded up, he added.

    VADODARA: Members of two communities clashed over the bursting of firecrackers in a locality in Gujarat’s Vadodara city on Diwali following which police detained 19 people from the two sides, an official said on Tuesday.

    The clash broke out at around 12.45 am on Tuesday in the communally sensitive Panigate locality.

    Those detained included a person who allegedly hurled a petrol bomb at policemen from the third floor of this house in the locality nearly an hour after the clash broke out, Vadodara Deputy Commissioner of Police Yashpal Jaganiya told PTI.

    No one was injured in the clash, he said, adding that a motorcycle parked in the area caught fire after a rocket firecracker fell on it.

    “Following an issue over the bursting of firecrackers and hurling rocket bombs at each other, people from two communities pelted stones at each other,” the official said.

    After the incident, security was deployed in the area and the situation was under control, he said.

    Suspects from both the communities were being rounded up, he added.

  • Delhi chokes as firecrackers burst in many parts, despite ban

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Firecrackers were burst by people in many parts of Delhi on Diwali night, flouting the ban imposed on it by the city government.

    Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai last week had said bursting of firecrackers on Diwali in the national capital will attract a jail term up to six months and a fine of Rs 200.

    Despite legal deterrent in place to discourage people from doing so, by dusk, residents in many neighborhoods, including some areas in south Delhi and northwest Delhi, had started bursting crackers.

    Even high-intensity firecrackers could be heard going off on ground, or mid-air. Diwali is being celebrated across the country on Monday.

    Bursting of firecrackers on this auspicious day is an old tradition, but authorities in the city had said the decision to restrict it was taken after considering environmental concerns and health hazards associated with it.

    Delhi’s air quality turned “very poor” on Monday amid an increase in stubble burning, bursting of firecrackers and moderately unfavourable meteorological conditions which allowed accumulation of pollutants.

    However, the 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) of 312 was still the second best for the Diwali day in seven years.

    Before this, the city recorded an AQI of 281 on Diwali in 2018. Experts fear that if volume of firecrackers burst goes up again this year, the air quality is likely to dip further.

    In case firecrackers are burst like last year, the air quality may plunge to “severe” levels on the night of Diwali itself and continue to remain in the “red” zone for another day, the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) had earlier predicted.

    However, despite the ban in place, people burst firecrackers with impunity in various areas of the city, staring around 6 pm.

    In south Delhi’s East of Kailash area, and neighbouring places like Nehru Place, Moolchand, noise of firecrackers going off in mid-air could be heard in the evening, while some residents burst it in their neighborhood streets, as they do it every year.

    In Burari too, many residents were enjoying bursting firecrackers despite wide dissemination of the information about the ban through media and other means.

    “They are educated but still doing this, what will children learn from it,” said a resident of a colony in Burari, on the condition of anonymity.

    In Laxmi Nagar, Mayur Vihar and Shahdara areas in east Delhi, the situation was similar. However, the intensity was lower compared to the situation last year, some residents said. Loud thuds of crackers were also reported in southwest Delhi’s Munirka area.

    Environment Minister Rai had earlier also said production, storage and sale of firecrackers in the city will be punishable with a fine of up to Rs 5,000 and three years in jail under Section 9B of the Explosives Act.

    A total of 408 teams have been set up to implement the ban. The Delhi Police has set up 210 teams under assistant commissioners of police, while the revenue department has set up 165 teams and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee has constituted 33 teams.

    In neighbouring cities of Gurugram and Faridabad too, many people burst firecrackers.

    The air quality in Ghaziabad (301), Noida (303), Greater Noida (270), Gurugram (325) and Faridabad (256) was reported ‘poor to very poor’ on Monday.

    An AQI between zero and 50 is considered “good”, 51 and 100 “satisfactory”, 101 and 200 “moderate”, 201 and 300 “poor”, 301 and 400 “very poor”, and 401 and 500 “severe”.

    NEW DELHI: Firecrackers were burst by people in many parts of Delhi on Diwali night, flouting the ban imposed on it by the city government.

    Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai last week had said bursting of firecrackers on Diwali in the national capital will attract a jail term up to six months and a fine of Rs 200.

    Despite legal deterrent in place to discourage people from doing so, by dusk, residents in many neighborhoods, including some areas in south Delhi and northwest Delhi, had started bursting crackers.

    Even high-intensity firecrackers could be heard going off on ground, or mid-air. Diwali is being celebrated across the country on Monday.

    Bursting of firecrackers on this auspicious day is an old tradition, but authorities in the city had said the decision to restrict it was taken after considering environmental concerns and health hazards associated with it.

    Delhi’s air quality turned “very poor” on Monday amid an increase in stubble burning, bursting of firecrackers and moderately unfavourable meteorological conditions which allowed accumulation of pollutants.

    However, the 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) of 312 was still the second best for the Diwali day in seven years.

    Before this, the city recorded an AQI of 281 on Diwali in 2018. Experts fear that if volume of firecrackers burst goes up again this year, the air quality is likely to dip further.

    In case firecrackers are burst like last year, the air quality may plunge to “severe” levels on the night of Diwali itself and continue to remain in the “red” zone for another day, the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) had earlier predicted.

    However, despite the ban in place, people burst firecrackers with impunity in various areas of the city, staring around 6 pm.

    In south Delhi’s East of Kailash area, and neighbouring places like Nehru Place, Moolchand, noise of firecrackers going off in mid-air could be heard in the evening, while some residents burst it in their neighborhood streets, as they do it every year.

    In Burari too, many residents were enjoying bursting firecrackers despite wide dissemination of the information about the ban through media and other means.

    “They are educated but still doing this, what will children learn from it,” said a resident of a colony in Burari, on the condition of anonymity.

    In Laxmi Nagar, Mayur Vihar and Shahdara areas in east Delhi, the situation was similar. However, the intensity was lower compared to the situation last year, some residents said. Loud thuds of crackers were also reported in southwest Delhi’s Munirka area.

    Environment Minister Rai had earlier also said production, storage and sale of firecrackers in the city will be punishable with a fine of up to Rs 5,000 and three years in jail under Section 9B of the Explosives Act.

    A total of 408 teams have been set up to implement the ban. The Delhi Police has set up 210 teams under assistant commissioners of police, while the revenue department has set up 165 teams and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee has constituted 33 teams.

    In neighbouring cities of Gurugram and Faridabad too, many people burst firecrackers.

    The air quality in Ghaziabad (301), Noida (303), Greater Noida (270), Gurugram (325) and Faridabad (256) was reported ‘poor to very poor’ on Monday.

    An AQI between zero and 50 is considered “good”, 51 and 100 “satisfactory”, 101 and 200 “moderate”, 201 and 300 “poor”, 301 and 400 “very poor”, and 401 and 500 “severe”.

  • RSS body slams Delhi government ban on all kinds of firecrackers during Diwali 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The RSS-affiliated Swadeshi Jagran Manch on Saturday slammed the AAP-led Delhi government over the imposition of a complete ban on all kinds of firecrackers in the city, terming the move “inappropriate and unscientific”.

    It also alleged that the Arvind Kejriwal government’s “blanket ban” on firecrackers was aimed at misguiding people and diverting their attention from the real cause of air pollution in the national capital.

    Government agencies have failed to solve the problem of stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and other parts of the country even though it is the “biggest source” of air pollution in the national capital and the surrounding northern states, the SJM said without naming anyone.

    “The SJM strongly opposes the complete ban on firecrackers by the Delhi government during the festival of Diwali as it is inappropriate,” it said in a statement.

    “The SJM also urges all state governments to make efforts to find a permanent solution to the problem of stubble burning and repeal the restrictions on firecrackers during Diwali,” the RSS body added.

    The burning of firecrackers “illegally” imported from China causes air pollution due to mixing of potassium nitrate and sulphur in them, not the green firecrackers manufactured in the country, it said.

    “Potassium nitrate and sulphur are not mixed in green firecrackers made in India today. Other pollutants such as aluminium, lithium, arsenic and mercury etc., have also been reduced to the minimum,” the SJM said.

    While these green firecrackers are certified by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, it is also “scientifically proven” that they cause 30 per cent less pollution, it added.

    The “last minute” decision of the Delhi Government and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee to ban even the green firecrackers is “highly deplorable”, the SJM said.

    Since the Union government has imposed “an effective ban” on the Chinese firecrackers, it is completely “unfair” to impose a blanket ban on all types of firecrackers in Delhi during the festival of Diwali, it said.

    The ban on all kinds of firecrackers is not just “arbitrary, anti-people and bereft of any scientific basis, but also hurting the sentiments of the people on the occasion of Diwali”, it added.

    “The Swadeshi Jagran Manch also urges the Delhi Police to come clear on whether they will follow the arbitrary orders of the Delhi government of arresting people in Delhi if found in possession of or bursting firecrackers,” the RSS affiliate said.

    The SJM said the Delhi government’s decision would deal a severe blow to over millions of workers and others engaged in the production and distribution of firecrackers in the country.

    “We should not forget that in Tamil Nadu (Sivakasi), West Bengal and many other parts of the country, the livelihoods of more than one million people depend on the firecracker industry,” the SJM said.

    Throughout the year, these people wait for Diwali to sell the firecrackers, it said.

    “In such a situation, it is not prudent to ban green firecrackers without any scientific basis,” the SJM said 

    NEW DELHI: The RSS-affiliated Swadeshi Jagran Manch on Saturday slammed the AAP-led Delhi government over the imposition of a complete ban on all kinds of firecrackers in the city, terming the move “inappropriate and unscientific”.

    It also alleged that the Arvind Kejriwal government’s “blanket ban” on firecrackers was aimed at misguiding people and diverting their attention from the real cause of air pollution in the national capital.

    Government agencies have failed to solve the problem of stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and other parts of the country even though it is the “biggest source” of air pollution in the national capital and the surrounding northern states, the SJM said without naming anyone.

    “The SJM strongly opposes the complete ban on firecrackers by the Delhi government during the festival of Diwali as it is inappropriate,” it said in a statement.

    “The SJM also urges all state governments to make efforts to find a permanent solution to the problem of stubble burning and repeal the restrictions on firecrackers during Diwali,” the RSS body added.

    The burning of firecrackers “illegally” imported from China causes air pollution due to mixing of potassium nitrate and sulphur in them, not the green firecrackers manufactured in the country, it said.

    “Potassium nitrate and sulphur are not mixed in green firecrackers made in India today. Other pollutants such as aluminium, lithium, arsenic and mercury etc., have also been reduced to the minimum,” the SJM said.

    While these green firecrackers are certified by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, it is also “scientifically proven” that they cause 30 per cent less pollution, it added.

    The “last minute” decision of the Delhi Government and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee to ban even the green firecrackers is “highly deplorable”, the SJM said.

    Since the Union government has imposed “an effective ban” on the Chinese firecrackers, it is completely “unfair” to impose a blanket ban on all types of firecrackers in Delhi during the festival of Diwali, it said.

    The ban on all kinds of firecrackers is not just “arbitrary, anti-people and bereft of any scientific basis, but also hurting the sentiments of the people on the occasion of Diwali”, it added.

    “The Swadeshi Jagran Manch also urges the Delhi Police to come clear on whether they will follow the arbitrary orders of the Delhi government of arresting people in Delhi if found in possession of or bursting firecrackers,” the RSS affiliate said.

    The SJM said the Delhi government’s decision would deal a severe blow to over millions of workers and others engaged in the production and distribution of firecrackers in the country.

    “We should not forget that in Tamil Nadu (Sivakasi), West Bengal and many other parts of the country, the livelihoods of more than one million people depend on the firecracker industry,” the SJM said.

    Throughout the year, these people wait for Diwali to sell the firecrackers, it said.

    “In such a situation, it is not prudent to ban green firecrackers without any scientific basis,” the SJM said 

  • No urgent hearing on plea on firecracker ban: Supreme Court

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday refused to accord urgent hearing on a plea relating to the ban on firecrackers, saying Diwali is round the corner and people must have invested money in the firecracker business. 

    “Sorry. We would not list that matter now. Diwali is round the corner. You come in the nick of time. People must have invested money in firecrackers business. You should have come two months earlier,” a bench comprising Chief Justice U U Lalit and Justice Hemant Gupta said.

    “We would not be able to deal with this matter. Otherwise, look at the consequences of this. Any injunction and those people are out of business,” the bench told the counsel, who mentioned the matter for urgent listing. The counsel told the bench the matter pertains to this year’s firecracker ban in Delhi and some other states. “Sorry. It will be done after Diwali,” the bench said.

    The apex court had on Thursday refused to accord urgent hearing to a plea against an order banning storage, sale, and use of all types of firecrackers in the national capital till January 1, 2023.

    The top court had asked the lawyer, who had mentioned the matter on Thursday and sought urgent hearing, to approach the Delhi High Court. The Delhi HC had earlier deferred hearing on the plea of green cracker merchants against the blanket ban on  firecrackers till January 1.

    On October 10, the apex court had refused to stay the Delhi government’s order banning storage, sale, and use of all varieties of firecrackers till January 1 to check pollution levels in the national capital, saying it did not want to add to the air pollution. The top court had last year clarified there is no blanket ban on the use of firecrackers and only those fireworks which contain barium salts are prohibited.

    In 2020, the National Green Tribunal banned the sale of all types of firecrackers in any district with AQI of 201 or more. The air quality index having readings between zero and 50 is termed as ‘good’, 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 and 200 ‘moderate’, 201 and 300 ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’, and 401 and 500 ‘severe’. Despite the ban on crackers in 2021, the AQI for places in Delhi and those surrounding Delhi too remained poor.

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday refused to accord urgent hearing on a plea relating to the ban on firecrackers, saying Diwali is round the corner and people must have invested money in the firecracker business. 

    “Sorry. We would not list that matter now. Diwali is round the corner. You come in the nick of time. People must have invested money in firecrackers business. You should have come two months earlier,” a bench comprising Chief Justice U U Lalit and Justice Hemant Gupta said.

    “We would not be able to deal with this matter. Otherwise, look at the consequences of this. Any injunction and those people are out of business,” the bench told the counsel, who mentioned the matter for urgent listing. The counsel told the bench the matter pertains to this year’s firecracker ban in Delhi and some other states. “Sorry. It will be done after Diwali,” the bench said.

    The apex court had on Thursday refused to accord urgent hearing to a plea against an order banning storage, sale, and use of all types of firecrackers in the national capital till January 1, 2023.

    The top court had asked the lawyer, who had mentioned the matter on Thursday and sought urgent hearing, to approach the Delhi High Court. The Delhi HC had earlier deferred hearing on the plea of green cracker merchants against the blanket ban on  firecrackers till January 1.

    On October 10, the apex court had refused to stay the Delhi government’s order banning storage, sale, and use of all varieties of firecrackers till January 1 to check pollution levels in the national capital, saying it did not want to add to the air pollution. The top court had last year clarified there is no blanket ban on the use of firecrackers and only those fireworks which contain barium salts are prohibited.

    In 2020, the National Green Tribunal banned the sale of all types of firecrackers in any district with AQI of 201 or more. The air quality index having readings between zero and 50 is termed as ‘good’, 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 and 200 ‘moderate’, 201 and 300 ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’, and 401 and 500 ‘severe’. Despite the ban on crackers in 2021, the AQI for places in Delhi and those surrounding Delhi too remained poor.

  • SC to consider on October 10 plea to allow sale, purchase or use of permissible firecrackers 

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to consider on October 10, a plea by BJP MP Manoj Tiwari seeking permission to sell, purchase or use permissible firecrackers. 

    The plea which was mentioned before CJI UU Lalit stated that Delhi has put a blanket ban on the sale, purchase and usage of firecrackers during festive seasons of Hindus, Sikhs, Christians & others till January 2023 and there’s a presumption that other states may also ban it like last year.

    Tiwari in the petition has contended that in the name of the right to life, freedom of religion cannot be taken away and a balance must have been struck to ensure that no action can be taken against common people for using or selling firecrackers. 

    Against the backdrop of FIRs and arbitrary arrests of people in 2021 for selling and bursting crackers assuming that everything was banned, Tiwari has also sought for issuing guidelines to not take coercive action against the public for using or selling permissible firecrackers. 

    Relief for issuance of guidelines to each and every state to take necessary measures to reduce pollution including installation of smog towers, and drive to planting trees.

    On October 29, 2021, the apex court had banned the crackers which were found to be injurious to health while making it clear that there is no blanket ban on crackers and people could use permissible firecrackers to celebrate their festivals.

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to consider on October 10, a plea by BJP MP Manoj Tiwari seeking permission to sell, purchase or use permissible firecrackers. 

    The plea which was mentioned before CJI UU Lalit stated that Delhi has put a blanket ban on the sale, purchase and usage of firecrackers during festive seasons of Hindus, Sikhs, Christians & others till January 2023 and there’s a presumption that other states may also ban it like last year.

    Tiwari in the petition has contended that in the name of the right to life, freedom of religion cannot be taken away and a balance must have been struck to ensure that no action can be taken against common people for using or selling firecrackers. 

    Against the backdrop of FIRs and arbitrary arrests of people in 2021 for selling and bursting crackers assuming that everything was banned, Tiwari has also sought for issuing guidelines to not take coercive action against the public for using or selling permissible firecrackers. 

    Relief for issuance of guidelines to each and every state to take necessary measures to reduce pollution including installation of smog towers, and drive to planting trees.

    On October 29, 2021, the apex court had banned the crackers which were found to be injurious to health while making it clear that there is no blanket ban on crackers and people could use permissible firecrackers to celebrate their festivals.

  • Yet another explosion in illegal firecracker unit in Bihar, one dead and six injured

    Express News Service

    PATNA: Yet another explosion inside an illegal firecracker unit in Bihar’s Gopalganj district on Wednesday claimed the life of a 45-year-old man and left six people wounded. The deceased was identified as Ali Mian.

    The incident took place at Bathua Bazar under Phulwaria police station in Gopalganj district when firecrackers were being manufactured. Locals said that the explosion was so powerful that its impact was felt over a radius of one km.

    The walls and roof of the building used for manufacturing the firecrackers were badly damaged due to the impact of the blast. Local residents immediately informed the Phulwaria police about the incident. The critically injured were rushedto a Gorakhpur hospital in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh for better treatment.

    On getting information, Gopalganj superintendent of police along with sub-divisional police official of Hathua rushed to the spot and inquired about the incident. An earth moving machine was pressed into service to remove the debris.

    Gopalganj SP Santosh Kumar said the reason behind the explosion was being ascertained. Prime facie it appeared to be an explosion during making firecrackers. A forensic team visited the spot and collected samples from there, which will beanalysed.

    This is the second explosion inside an illegal firecracker unit in Bihar in the last 10 days. Earlier, a similar explosion in Bhagalpur had claimed the lives of 15 people and left nine others wounded.

    The anti-terrorism squad (ATS) of the state police was probing the incident’s links to terrorist or Maoist outfits, if any. The main accused in the Bhagalpur incident Mohammad Azad surrendered before the court on Monday.

  • Banned in Delhi-NCR, crackers being dumped in Punjab with 40 per cent discount   

    Express News Service

    CHANDIGARH:  Banned in the National Capital Region (NCR) and Haryana, the firecrackers are being dumped in Punjab with discounts up to 40 per cent. The wholesalers of the NCR and Haryana are eying Punjab to recoup their losses. However, the government in Punjab has allowed only a two-hour window to burst green crackers. The normal crackers have been banned in Punjab. The sale of crackers has gone up by 50 per cent in Punjab as compared to last year.

    The super wholesalers of firecrackers in Delhi are dumping their stock worth lakhs which is left from the last year or this year in Punjab. “The big traders from the national capital are clearing their stock by offering 20% discounts to retailers in many cities across Punjab on the condition of payment by cash as finally it touches more than 40 per cent. The discount on banned high-noise bombs and aerial crackers is even higher,” said a wholesaler.

    He added that besides offering heavy discounts, the bulk delivery of crackers within the state is also being done. “The reason is that that we have to clear our stocks which we have stored at our godowns in neighbouring Haryana whatever it takes. Hence, we are offering heavy discounts,’’ said a Delhi-based trader.

    Another dealer who supplies crackers said firecracker rates had fallen down by 25 per cent as old stocks were lying with the dealers for about two years. “We have placed the orders for green crackers,” he added.The Punjab government has authorised the state police to check and ensure that only green crackers are sold.  It has already ordered that only green crackers will be allowed to be sold. The government has fixed two hours time to burst them.

    One of the region’s biggest cracker hubs in Punjab, Kurali, which has 14 wholesalers, alone generates the business of nearly Rs 8 crore to Rs 10 crore every year. A leading wholesaler said that this year the sales of crackers had gone up by 50 per cent as compared to last year. “People from the state besides Haryana and Himachal Pradesh are coming to buy the firecrackers. Besides the crackers, the sales of candles have also doubled,” he added.

     Meanwhile, even in the event of not celebrating Diwali amid the explosions of firecrackers, the mood of Delhiites remained upbeat on Dhanteras on Tuesday. People flocked to various markets in Delhi. 

    Mood upbeat despite orderMeanwhile, even in the event of not celebrating Diwali amid explosions of firecrackers, the mood of Delhiites remained upbeat on Dhanteras on Tuesday. People flocked to various markets in Delhi. From old Chandni Chowk to Lajpat Nagar, the festival rush was visible. 

  • Ban on sale and use of firecrackers across the country from midnight to November 30: NGT

    Burning and selling of firecrackers has been banned in the entire NCR since midnight of November 9. This ban will continue till the night of 30 November. Explain that in view of the increasing pollution, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed a ban in NCR since Monday.

    Know that the Delhi government has already banned the sale and use of firecrackers in the capital. The decision will apply to all cities of NCR including Noida, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Gurugram, Faridabad, Baghpat.

    In this regard, a bench headed by NGT chief Justice AK Goel has directed to ban the sale and use of firecrackers in all the cities of the country where the air quality has been very poor in November last year.

    However, people of those cities can use green firecrackers on Diwali, Chhath, Christmas, New Year and other festivals where the air quality is in the middle category. But only two hours will be allowed to burn green firecrackers.

    The NGT has directed the Pollution Control Committees / Boards of all states and union territories to conduct special campaigns for pollution control in the wake of the Karona epidemic. At the same time, the Chief Secretaries and Directors General of Police, Commissioners of all the states and union territories have been directed to issue circulars and ensure compliance with the ban on the use of firecrackers.

  • NGT bans sale, use of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR from midnight till Nov 30

     In a bid to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic from worsening owing to poor air quality, the National Green Tribunal on Monday imposed a total ban on the sale and use of firecrackers in the National Capital Region from midnight of November 9 to midnight of November 30.

    A bench of the NGT, headed by its chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, directed that the order will also apply to all cities and towns in the country where the average of ambient air quality during November (as per available data of last year) falls under ‘poor’ or worse 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, Chatt, New Year, Christmas, etc, as may be specified by the concerned state,” the order said.


    The NGT said that restrictions are optional for the authorities at other places, but added that if there are more stringent measures under orders of the authorities, the same will prevail.

    The tribunal, in its order, also said that all the states, Union Territories, Pollution Control Boards, and Pollution Control Committees may initiate special drives to contain air pollution from all sources in view of the potential of aggravation of COVID-19.

    “The Chief Secretaries and DGPs of all the States and Union Territories may issue and circulate an appropriate order in above terms with appropriate enforcement guidelines to all the District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police, PCBs/PCCs,” the order said.