No firecrackers sale in Delhi-NCR region till November 1, rules Supreme Court

New Delhi, October 9: The pollution in Delhi is the major cause of forming smog in the capital. Every year the amount of smoke increases in the capital territory after Diwali. And in a bid to stop this and prevent pollution, the Apex Court has put a ban on the sale firecrackers until November 1 in Delhi-NCR region. 

 

This time, firecrackers will not be sold in Delhi and nearby towns. The court said its order in September removing the ban would be effective from November, adding that it wants to test the effect of the ban on air quality after Diwali, the festival when millions across India celebrate by bursting crackers.

 

Each year, the festival leaves the air quality in Delhi thick with smoke and pollution. Three children had gone to the court asking that its order banning the sale of crackers in Delhi in November 2016 be restored. Central Pollution Control Board supported the petitioners and wanted the ban be restored. 

 

Appearing for petitioner, Arjun Gopal, advocate Gopal Shankarnarayanan had argued that the ban should be reinstated as the national capital and its satellite towns saw a monumental surge in air pollution levels during and after the festival in 2016. He added that there were several reasons behind the augmented pollution levels in the city during the season and burning of firecrackers was on of them

The apex court was hearing a plea seeking restoration of its last year’s order banning the sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR. In September, the top court had temporarily lifted its earlier order suspending licence for the sale of fire crackers, saying a complete ban would be an "extreme step" and a graded approach was needed to curb pollution.