India bans firecrackers in districts near capital before Diwali

NEW DELHI: OCT. 31 – Authorities in the northern Indian state of Haryana on Sunday banned the sale and use of firecrackers in 14 districts near the capital, New Delhi, days ahead of the festival of Diwali.

The local government cited rulings of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the Supreme Court in support of the move. It noted that setting off firecrackers can adversely affect the respiratory health of vulnerable groups, besides aggravating the health condition of COVID-19 positive people in home isolation.

According to the directive, 14 districts where the sale and bursting of firecrackers are banned are Bhiwani, Charkhi Dadri, Faridabad, Gurugram, Jhajjar, Jind, Karnal, Mahendragarh, Nuh, Palwal, Panipat, Rewari, Rohtak and Sonipat.

The order also bars online shopping sites from making any sales of such nature.

The order will also apply to cities and towns where the average ambient air quality during November (as per last year’s data) is of the poor or above category, while green crackers will be permitted in cities in which air quality is moderate or better, it said.

“The cities/town/areas in which air quality is moderate or below, the timings for use and bursting of crackers, on Diwali days or any other festivals like Gurupurab will strictly be from 8:00 p.m. till 10:00 p.m. local time only. For Chatt, the same will be from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. local time,” said the government order.

“On Christmas and New Year Eve, when such fireworks start around midnight, it will be from 11:55 p.m. till 12:30 a.m. local time only.”

New Delhi and several other states including Punjab, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal and Assam have also imposed a ban on the bursting of firecrackers on Diwali.

Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, is scheduled to be celebrated next week.

-Xinhua