The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) on Tuesday ordered a whole ban on the sale and bursting of firecrackers within the urban center till January 1, 2022.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had announced a ban on firecrackers on September 15, saying it had been “essential to save lots of lives”.
According to the DPCC order, several experts have indicated a prospect of another surge of COVID-19 and largescale celebrations by bursting of firecrackers will result not only in agglomeration of individuals in violation of social distancing norms but also a high level of pollution resulting in serious health issues in Delhi.
The bursting of firecrackers under the prevalent pandemic crisis isn’t favourable for the reason for larger community health given the many relationship between pollution and respiratory infections, it said.
“There are going to be a ”complete ban on bursting and sale of all types of firecrackers up to 1.1.2022 within the territory of NCT of Delhi,” the DPCC’s order stated.
The pollution control body has asked district magistrates and deputy commissioners of police to implement the directions and submit daily action-taken reports thereto.
A few days ago, Delhi suggested its surrounding states to shift their transport vehicles within the urban center Region to CNG and adopt a policy to push electric vehicles. It had also urged the neighbouring states to emulate Delhi and ban firecrackers to tackle pollution.
Last year, the National Green Tribunal had imposed a complete ban on the sale or use of all types of firecrackers within the capital Region from November 9 midnight to November 30 midnight, saying “celebration by crackers is for happiness and to not celebrate deaths and diseases”.
However, the town had recorded an overall air quality index of 414, which falls within the severe category, the day after Diwali, with people flouting the ban with impunity.
