The percentage of households bursting firecrackers in Delhi-NCR on Diwali could be the highest in five years as two out of every five families are likely to indulge in the activity, according to a survey.
Anybody bursting firecrackers in the national capital till January 1 can be fined Rs 200 and jailed up to six months, while sale, storage and production of firecrackers will attract a fine of Rs 5,000 and imprisonment up to three years under Section 9B of Explosives Act.
Delhi air pollution: The court, however, said the petitioners were free to initiate appropriate proceedings under the law to seek redressal of their grievances.
Delhi firecracker ban: In September, the city government re-imposed a complete ban on the production, sale and use of all types of firecrackers till January 1, including on Diwali, a practice it has been following for the last two years.
Air Pollution Control: The Delhi High Court had earlier deferred hearing on the plea of green cracker merchants against an order banning the storage, sale, and use of all types of firecrackers till January 1.
Punjab Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer said, "Firecrackers will be allowed only for two hours on Diwali night from 8 to 10 pm. Apart from Diwali, crackers will be permitted for one hour from 4 am to 5 am & one hour from 9 to 10 pm on November 8, Prakash Purab day of Sri Guru Nanak Dev."
Online sale/delivery of firecrackers will also be banned in Delhi. The restriction will remain in force till January 1, 2023.
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.
Top News
Latest News
