NGT extends ban on sale, use of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR

The National Green Tribunal on Wednesday extended the ban on the sale and use of all firecrackers during the Covid-19 pandemic in Delhi- NCR and other cities, where the ambient air quality is in the poor and above category.

The green court said that during Christmas and on New Year, the use of green crackers will be allowed between 11:55 pm to 12:30 am, but only at places where air quality is in the moderate zone or better.

A bench headed by NGT chairperson Adarsh Kumar Goel said its direction to restrict the use of firecrackers in places where air quality is ‘moderate’ or below to green crackers and for the duration of not more than two hours, will continue.

“There will be a total ban on the sale and use of all kinds of firecrackers during Covid-19 pandemic in the NCR and all cities/towns in the country where the ambient air quality falls under the ‘poor’ and above category,” the bench said.

The NGT also directed all district magistrates to ensure that firecrackers are not sold in Delhi-NCR and ordered strict compliance of the ban.

Last month, ahead of Diwali, the NGT had imposed a compplete ban on the sale and use of all kinds of firecrackers from November 9 midnight to November 30 midnight in Delhi and NCR, as well as in places which had recorded ‘poor’ air quality levels in 2019.

The NGT had then attached a list of 122 places across the country, which had recorded poor air quality levels in November 2019.