SC says firecracker ban hardly implemented in Delhi, suggests perpetual ban
This story was originally published at 18:59 IST on 4 November 2024
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NEW DELHI – The Supreme Court Monday observed that the Delhi government's directive banning the sale and lighting of firecrackers in the National Capital Territory was "hardly implemented" and asked it to decide on a "perpetual ban".
The court said the effect of non-implementation of the ban was apparent from newspaper reports that pollution level in Delhi was at an all-time high during Diwali this year. The pollution level on Diwali night was far higher than in 2023 or 2022, said the bench of Justice Abhay S. Oka and Justice Augustine George Masih. Moreover, the reports indicated that farm fires were also on the rise during Diwali, the bench said.
According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board, the 24-hour average air quality index in Delhi was in the 'very poor' category at 328 on Diwali, worse than in the past two years.
The court asked the Delhi government to file a detailed affidavit with the orders banning the use of firecrackers and the steps taken to implement the ban. It also issued a notice to Delhi's police commissioner to file an affidavit indicating the steps taken by the force to enforce the ban on firecrackers.
The Delhi government and the police will have to list the steps they propose to take next year, including measures to improve public awareness, to ensure that the ban is fully implemented, the court said. It said people also bring firecrackers from other states, and a public campaign is needed to stop this.
The court also directed the governments of Haryana and Punjab to file affidavits indicating the number of instances of stubble burning during the last 10 days of October.
"Something has to be done," the Supreme Court said. "Either the ones who are selling crackers despite the ban, their premises must be sealed. We will look into this. Amicus curiae (a senior lawyer appointed to help the court) points out that a report suggested that there was huge increase in pollution on the day of Diwali. Pollution percentage goes from 10% to 27%... This has to be responded to immediately."
The court was hearing a case on rising air pollution levels in the Delhi-National Capital Region and the issue of stubble burning in neighbouring states. Regarding other issues that came up in the case, the court asked the Centre to decide in one week on the Punjab government's plea seeking funds to provide tractors and other instruments related to stubble burning in the state.
The court noted the assurance from the government that draft rules for implementation of Section 15 of the Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986, would be notified this week. It also asked the states around the National Capital Region to comply with its order on colour-coded stickers on vehicles to identify fuel types. End
Reported by Surya Tripathi
Edited by Rajeev Pai
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