SC sets 2hour window for crackers this Diwali
No ban on sale, lowemission crackers on specific occasions at fixed times
NEW DELHI: Diwali celebrants nationwide will get two hours between 8pm and 10pm to burst crackers during the festival in November, the Supreme Court said on Tuesday, and made only the sale of “green and improved” fireworks mandatory at least in the national capital region (NCR) centred on New Delhi, in a ruling that could significantly reduce air pollution that peaks in the festive season but could dent the business of cracker manufacturers and distributors.
Justice AK Sikri and justice Ashok Bhushan also imposed stringent restrictions on the chemical materials that are used in firecrackers, hearing a 2015 plea by three toddlers filed through their parents who sought a complete ban on the manufacture, sale and bursting of fireworks on account of the health risks they pose to citizens.
The court order means firecrackers that will emit fewer toxic pollutants will be manufactured and sold across India in the future although it wasn’t clear if the ruling on the sale of green fireworks will extend beyond the national capital and surrounding cities this coming Diwali, which is on November 7.
Last year, the top court ruled against the sale of firecrackers in NCR, which includes Gurugram and Faridabad in Haryana, and Noida and Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh.
“We, on behalf of the three toddlers who filed this petition, welcome this judgment. There is nothing called green firecrackers (as of now)... Until they (the government) come up with green firecrackers, this judgment is as good as a ban on polluting firecrackers. It’s a small but significant step in our fight against air pollution, ” said Gopal Shankarnarayan, a lawyer for the petitioners.
In another significant step, the apex court encouraged the Centre and state governments in the NCR to consider permitting community fireworks displays wherever possible. A venue, such as an open field, would be identified by the authorities and the exercise should be completed within a week beginning on Tuesday, the
court said. “The areas designated now for the purpose of Diwali shall be valid for community fireworks on other occasions/festivals as well,” it ruled.
The two judges said other festivals, and even weddings, will have to stick to the 8pm-10pm window. On Christmas Eve and
New Year’s Eve, the window will open at 11:55pm and close at 12:30am across the country.
The police will have to ensure that fireworks are burst in the allotted slot and they can take action against people bursting crackers beyond the designated time.