NEW DELHI, Oct 16 (NNN-PTI) – India’s top court, yesterday, allowed the sale and bursting of green firecrackers, in the capital Delhi and its outskirts for Diwali (Hindu festival of lights) from Oct 18 to 21, officials said.
The move was seen as a major relaxation for the people celebrating the festival, by setting off fireworks.
Describing the directions as a “balanced approach” between celebrating festivities and protecting the environment, the court permitted the use of green firecrackers during restricted hours, on the day before the festival and on Diwali.
Every year, the bursting of firecrackers around the Diwali festival leaves the air in and around Delhi thick, and pushes air quality to a dangerous “severe” level of rating.
For the past several years, a complete ban on the sale and bursting of firecrackers has been imposed in Delhi and its outskirts around Diwali. However, people used to defy the ban and ignore the appeals from the authorities, regarding bursting firecrackers during the festival.
The top court observed that, a complete ban in the past had led to the smuggling of conventional firecrackers, which caused greater environmental harm.
“Conventional firecrackers are smuggled, which causes more damage. We have to take a balanced approach,” the court said.
The Supreme Court directed pollution control agencies to monitor pollution levels during Diwali, and submit reports.– NNN-PTI
