NGT bans firecrackers across India in cities with ‘poor’ air quality

NewsBharati    09-Nov-2020 14:40:29 PM
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Delhi, November 09: In a bid to contain the air pollution from all sources in view of the potential of aggravation of COVID-19, the National Green Tribunal (NGT), on Monday, banned the sale and use of firecrackers till November 30 in places with 'poor' air quality across the country.
 

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A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel clarified that the direction would 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) fell under the 'poor' and above categories.
 
He said, "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, etc., as may be specified by the state concerned."
 
The order further stated that in 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 Eve, etc., as may be specified by the concerned State.
 
The NGT also directed all states and Union Territories to initiate special drives to contain air pollution from all sources in view of the potential of aggravation of COVID-19. "At other places, ban/restrictions are optional for the authorities, but if there are more stringent measures under orders of the authorities, the same will prevail," the bench said.
 
Moreover, NGT said there will be a total ban against the sale or use of all kinds of firecrackers in the NCR from midnight of November 9 -10 to midnight of November 30 - December 1, 2020.
This came after several other states including Karnataka, Odisha, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Sikkim banned crackers already.