Delhi government renews firecracker ban to combat pollution

As part of an effort to lower pollution levels in the winter, the Delhi government has decided to reimpose a ban on the production, sale, storage, and use of all types of firecrackers in the city, Environment Minister Gopal Rai announced on Monday.

He stated in a news conference that Delhi Police will be given strong instructions to enforce the ban in the city. For the past three years, the Delhi government has practiced a blanket ban on all firecrackers.

“CM Arvind Kejriwal has decided to ban firecrackers on the occasion of Diwali to control pollution. The manufacturing, storage, sale, online delivery, and bursting of any type of firecracker are completely prohibited in Delhi”, Gopal Rai said.

#WATCH | On Delhi firecracker ban, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai says, "CM Arvind Kejriwal has decided that firecrackers should be banned on the occasion of Diwali to control pollution. Manufacturing, storage, sale, online delivery and bursting of any type of firecrackers… pic.twitter.com/jQcvSGV8hR

— ANI (@ANI) September 11, 2023

The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has directed the police in Delhi-NCR to publish a circular declaring that no permits will be provided, the minister said.
“Celebrating festivals is important, but equally important is caring for the environment. That’s why we have made this decision in Delhi for the last 2 years, and the people of Delhi are supportive,” he added.

The environment minister emphasized a positive trend in Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) during the 12-month period from January to August at the news conference on Monday. The oncoming winter, which usually sees an increase in particle matter in Delhi’s air, raised his fears, though. In response, he stated that the administration is actively developing a thorough winter action plan intended to reduce pollution.

Dust storms, crop fires caused by burning stubble, the burning of solid fuels for heating, and the usage of firecrackers during Diwali are some other elements that contribute to pollution during the winter months in addition to traffic and industrial emissions. For the last three years, the Delhi government has outlawed all firecrackers in an effort to reduce pollution to some extent. Firecrackers are an important part of celebrations for the Hindu festival of Diwali, which falls in mid-November this year.