Key points:
- On Monday, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) imposed a total prohibition on the use and sale of firecrackers in the Delhi-NCR region.
- At a meeting on Thursday, the Arvind Kejriwal led-Delhi government had decided to prohibit the use of firecrackers.
- Firecracker bursts can aggravate breathing problems, making people more vulnerable to lung infection.
- For the fifth continuous day, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) continued to remain in a severe category.
- For the fifth consecutive day, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) continued to remain in a severe category.
On Monday, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) imposed a total prohibition on the use and sale of firecrackers in the Delhi-NCR region from midnight on Nov 9 until midnight on Nov 30.
According to the news agency ANI, the NGT order further stated that the ban would apply in cities and cities where air quality is in the ‘poor’ category.
Further things NGT added:
The NGT even farther added that only green firecrackers would be sold in cities or towns where the air quality is ‘moderate’ or below, and the time duration of the bursting of them will be limited to two hours mostly during festivals such as Diwali, New Year, Chhath / Christmas Eve as the state may specify, ANI reported.
At present, with regard to allowing/banning the sale and use of firecrackers during the festive season, state governments have their own set of guidelines.
Kejriwal Gov on Banning of firecrackers:
At a meeting on Thursday, the Arvind Kejriwal led-Delhi government had decided to prohibit the use of firecrackers because it was directly proportional to the rapid increase in the daily coronavirus tally of the national capital.
At a time whenever the national capital is experiencing a spike in the number of cases of coronavirus disease (Covid-19), firecracker bursts can aggravate breathing problems, making people more vulnerable to lung infection.
The Highest number of deaths and cases recorded:
The largest-ever jump of 7,745 Covid-19 cases, as well as 77 deaths, were recorded in Delhi on Sunday, pushing the tally as well as death toll to 438,529 and 6,989 including both.
Experts have suggested that the state government should start increasing its testing as a third wave of the outbreak is already prevailing and also the situation may worsen with the logging of 15,000 cases in a single day.
Haryana Gov on use of firecrackers:
Similarly, between 8 pm to 10 pm on Diwali as well as Gurupurab, and 11.55 pm to 12.30 am on Christmas and New Year’s Eve, the Haryana government allowed the use of firecrackers.
In addition to firecrackers, excessive stubble burning can also be attributed to the rising levels of pollution in the Delhi-NCR.
Delhi AQI to be same:
For the fifth consecutive day, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) continued to remain in a severe category. The AQI was 459 on Monday at 6 am, and the average temperature observed was 10 degrees Celsius at 8.30 am.
An AQI among 301 and 400 and 401 until 500 is regarded to be in the category of “very poor” or “severe,” respectively.
