Supreme Court bans sale of firecrackers in Delhi till November 1

October 09, 2017

Delhi this year will observe silent and pollution-free Diwali, after the Supreme Court today banned the sale of firecrackers till November 1, saying it wants to assess the impact on the air quality. Whereas, those who had already bought firecrackers can still crack and burst them on October 19, when millions across the country will celebrate the festival of lights by bursting crackers and lighting lamps. In November last year, the court had restricted the sale of fireworks within the National Capital Region, which includes Delhi and nearby areas, following a petition flagging the alarming rise in pollution levels after Diwali. Related Post: Supreme Court: 50 lakhs crackers should be enough for Delhi, NCR Last month, the court temporarily up-lifted the ban and allowed the sale of crackers on September 12, saying a complete ban would be an & quot extreme step& quot , and a & quot graded approach& quot was needed to tackle pollution. Each year, Diwali festivities leave the air in Delhi thick with deadly smog and suspended particles, and residents complaining of breathlessness and lung difficulties. Firecracker sellers and manufacturers challenged the ban as an extreme step that would impact livelihoods, after which the Supreme Court uplifted the ban. But three children approached the supreme court again asking the ban to be restored. The court passed the order that a ban & quot should be given a chance& quot .