NEW DELHI, Oct 23: The Government of Delhi has banned firecrackers in the national
Capital during Diwali celebrations as they aggravate air and noise pollution
in a region already afflicted by vehicular and industrial exhaust fumes creating
major health issues. Any violation of the rule will attract a fine and imprisonment.
Diwali falls on Monday, October 24. The ban, imposed earlier, has been extended
till January 1.
While production, storage and sale will attract a fine of Rs 5,000 and imprisonment
for three years, the punishment for bursting of crackers is a fine of Rs 200
and/or imprisonment for six months under Section 9B of the Explosives Act, Environment
Minister Gopal Rai said. Pollution in Delhi worsens around winter.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Thursday refused to urgently hear a petition
by a BJP leader challenging the blanket ban on firecrackers in Delhi. "Let people
breathe clean air... spend your money on sweets," the apex court remarked.
The Delhi Government had announced a total ban on all types of crackers including
green crackers on September 7. So far 188 cases of violations have been booked
and 2,917 kg of crackers seized. Special teams of police and pollution control
staff have been formed to watch out for violations.
Several more States such as Tamil Nadu, Bengal, Haryana and Punjab have imposed
restrictions on bursting of fireworks to control pollution. In Mumbai the police
has banned the sale of firecrackers without permission. In Punjab, people are
allowed to burn crackers from 8 pm to 10 pm on Diwali. In Haryana there is a
total ban on sale and bursting of firecrackers except green crackers. Bengal
too has imposed a ban except for green crackers. However, there is no ban in
Uttar Pradesh and Odisha.
Diwali, a festival of lights
During Diwali people traditionally light earthen lamps around their houses
to celebrate the mythological return of Lord Ram to Ayodhya after killing the
demon Ravan and also completing his 14-year exile. He is believed to have arrived
on the 20th day after killing the demon, which is celebrated as Dussehra. This
year Dussehra was celebrated on October 5 and therefore Diwali comes on October
24. Although the mythological stories differ from region to region, the astronomical
calculations of the Hindu almanac in fixing the festivals shows consistency
from the days of antiquity.
