Highlights
- Delhi’s Supreme Court banned the sale of firecrackers till November 1
- The Court has banned the sale in the residential colonies of Maharashtra
- The verdicts however, do not ban the bursting of firecrackers
New Delhi: On Tuesday, Bombay High Court imposed a blanket ban on the sale of firecrackers in all residential areas in Maharashtra in light of the poor air quality prevailing in the state. The high court order also specified that the licences already allotted to shopkeepers should be suspended. The laudable move came just hours after Minister Ramdas Kadam demanded a ban on crackers across the state and a day after the Supreme Court banned sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR region till November 1. The Bombay High Court also turned down the pleas filed by two fire cracker dealers seeking temporary licences to sell crackers in residential areas.
Also Read: Chhattisgarh Government Bans Use Of Firecrackers With High Decibels During Diwali
In terms of the air quality index (AQI), as per 2015 report by Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), the AQI of 4 cities of Maharashtra – Mumbai, Pune, Solapur and Chandrapur fell in the bracket of 167-227 as against the prescribed limit of 0-50.
Since the order has been passed ahead of Diwali, it has created a massive stir among people, there are some who are welcoming the move, while there are many who are slamming the decision.
When we burst crackers on Diwali we pollute the environment by creating carbon dioxide. We should not pollute the environment, we should not burst crackers. Diwali should be free of pollution. That’s the pledge the Chief Minister has asked kids to take, says Maharashtra Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam.
While Mumbai Congress Chief Sanjay Nirupam said, if we aren’t going to burst crackers on Diwali, then when will we use them?
Also Read: Celebrate Waste-Free Diwali: Top 5 Home Décor Ideas To Brighten Up Your Home
From Politicians to actors like Anushka Sharma and Dia Mirza support the #CrackerBan orders and voice their backing for a noise and pollution free Diwali. Dia Mirza also urged citizens to make informed choices for the sake of health.
Can we make informed choices for the sake of health? Citizens across the country have pledged to celebrate a #crackerfree #Diwali! pic.twitter.com/tBwZqRa70u
— Dia Mirza (@deespeak) October 9, 2017
