Ban on party poppers that use chemicals

NEW DELHI: The environment ministry on April 12 banned the use of party poppers that use low intensity chemical explosives and plastics streamers.

“The ban is a precautionary measure. We know that these explosives can prove dangerous to people, especially children,” Manoj Kumar Gangeya, a senior official at the ministry, said. “They are harmful for the environment and human health,” he added.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has been charged with implementing the directive according to which, only poppers that use compressed air as the charge material and soft paper as streamers will be allowed.

In 2017, the Supreme Court imposed a ban on the sale of firecrackers in Delhi-ncr during Diwali in a bid to check air pollution levels.

GOVT EMPHASIS ON PLASTIC POLLUTION

India is hosting World Environment Day this year with a focus on plastic pollution. The ubiquitous use of plastic in everything from packaging to storage to furniture is part of the problem. Different measures are being taken to curb its use.

In February, the environment minister declared that the ministry headquarters in Delhi would be a plastic-free zone. Recently, Maharashtra became the 18th state to ban the use of plastic bags.

The Delhi government on Tuesday directed schools to restrict students from using plastic covers for their books. Following the government’s decision, an insertion will be made in section 376 of Indian Penal Code providing for death penalty for rape of a girl below 12 years and in case of gang rape of a girl below 16 years, death penalty for all the rapists. Along with the IPC, Section 42 of the POCSO Act will also be amended to allow the court to pronounce death penalty for those raping children below 12 years. In case of rape of a girl under 16 years, minimum punishment has been increased from 10 years to 20 years, extendable to imprisonment for life. The punishment for gang rape of a girl under 16 years of age will have a minimum punishment of imprisonment for life. Recently, the Rajasthan government approved a bill seeking death penalty for those convicted of raping girls under 12 years of age. Two other BJP ruled states — Madhya Pradesh and Haryana — have also given the go ahead for a similar law. According to National Law University Delhi’s Centre on the Death Penalty, globally 14 countries have death penalty law for child rapists.