As compared to previous years, there has been a slight fall in accident cases of fire triggered by burning of crackers. According to data, while 271 fire incidents were registered in 2018, it came down to 205 last year. In 2019, there were 245 cases.
The team disguised themselves as vendors from Haryana who wanted to purchase firecrackers from Delhi.
A special bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar and Ajay Rastogi also asked the West Bengal government to explore the possibility to ensure that banned firecrackers and related items are not imported in the state at the entry point itself.
The Calcutta High Court has sought a re-imposition of the ban on firecrackers that the court had ordered before Diwali and Chhath in 2020.
Only green crackers shall be sold in cities and towns where the air quality is in the "moderate" or below category, the order said.
According to police, Lal was arrested on Friday when a police team deployed on Lala Lajpat Rai Marg intercepted his vehicle after a brief chase and recovered the firecrackers weighing about 21.7 kg.
Kolkata Police Commissioner Soumen Mitra held a meeting with all deputy commissioners and other senior officers of the force and directed them to ensure that the ban is strictly implemented.
Dealers have taken permission to sell green crackers starting November 1 and will sell them till November 20.
The Uttar Pradesh government on Friday said that there will be a total ban on the sale and use of all kinds of firecrackers in the NCR and all cities where air quality falls under the 'poor' or higher category.
Keeping in mind the anticipated after-effects of Diwali, several states have banned the use of firecrackers, and have urged the public to maintain social distancing.
The decision was taken after extensive consultation with health, environment experts, and other stakeholders, the order said.
Delhi government counsel Santosh Kumar Tripathi said the issue was coming up for hearing before the Supreme Court.
The state government has also strengthened its night curfew curb in twin cities, Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, for a period of 10 days in view of the Durga Puja.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that like last year, it was essential to implement the ban in order to save lives.
Taking to Twitter, the chief minister said the decision has been taken in the wake of the pollution situation in the national capital, in the last three years during Diwali.
During Christmas, and New Year, green crackers can be used from 11:55 pm to 12:30 am only at places where air quality is 'moderate' or below, the NGT said.
The state government had earlier banned firecrackers to enable people to celebrate the festival in a peaceful manner but this year the administration is more concerned about pollution in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
D Roopa had on November 14 written a Facebook post asking why people have a problem with a ban on firecrackers.
Nearly 70 per cent people in the national capital refrained from bursting firecrackers on Diwali this year, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Monday.
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