New Delhi
Like Delhi, the Supreme Court has directed UP and Haryana to impose a complete ban on firecrackers. A bench led by Justice AS Oka of the Supreme Court said that we have come to the conclusion that the ban on firecrackers will be effective only if a similar ban is implemented in the NCR states also. Delhi government told the court that firecrackers have been banned for the whole year.
The court said that there should be a similar ban in the part of Rajasthan falling in the NCR area. We currently direct Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to implement restrictions similar to those imposed by Delhi on December 19, 2024. The above order was passed during the hearing of the petition filed by MC Mehta in the court. The bench led by Justice Oka is hearing the issue of measures to deal with air pollution in Delhi and NCR. During the hearing, the ban on firecrackers for a year, implementation of GRAP and solid waste management were discussed.
What is the stand of Delhi government?
Senior advocate Shadan Farasat, appearing for the Delhi government, told the court that a blanket ban has been imposed on the manufacture, storage and sale as well as distribution and use of firecrackers in Delhi. But these measures will be effective only when NCR states also impose such bans. Because firecrackers can be brought to Delhi from these states. The court was told that a complete ban has been imposed on firecrackers in the NCR areas of Rajasthan.
Also, use of green firecrackers has been allowed in Haryana. The court said that in exercise of the powers under Section 5 of the Environment Protection Act, 1993, the Delhi government has banned the manufacture, storage, sale, delivery through online marketing platforms and bursting of all types of firecrackers in NCT Delhi with immediate effect. A complete ban has been imposed for the entire year. The court said that for once we suggest that the Delhi model be followed. The next hearing of the case will be on January 15, 2025, in which additional directions on the ban of firecrackers will be considered.
what is the matter
The Supreme Court had earlier expressed concern over the lack of enforcement of the ban on firecrackers in Delhi-NCR. On December 12, the court had directed the Delhi government and NCR states to take a decision on imposing a ban on the manufacture, storage, sale, distribution, and use of firecrackers for the entire year. The Court had stressed that this ban was necessary to control air and noise pollution. Earlier the court had also said that no religion promotes polluting activities and called for strict implementation of the ban keeping in mind the citizens’ right to a clean environment under Article 21 of the Constitution.
