दिल्ली में बढ़ते प्रदूषण को लेकर दिल्ली सरकार ने सभी तरह के पटाखों पर पूर्ण प्रतिबंध लगाने की घोषणा की

Delhi government announced a complete ban on all types of firecrackers due to rising pollution in Delhi

To control the air pollution that occurs every year in the capital during winter, the Delhi government on Monday announced a complete ban on all types of firecrackers till January 1, 2025. State Environment Minister Gopal Rai said that the ban imposed under the relevant sections of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 will apply to the production, storage, sale and use of all firecrackers including "green" firecrackers. Speaking at a press conference, Rai said that air pollution is recorded to have increased in Delhi during the winter season and bursting of firecrackers increases local emissions.

In view of such a situation, like last year, this time also a complete ban is being imposed on the production, storage, sale and use of all types of firecrackers so that people can be saved from pollution. There will also be a complete ban on online delivery or sale of any kind of firecrackers," the minister said.A DPCC official said they will also issue a formal notification for the ban in the coming days. Sure, the government has imposed a complete ban on firecrackers every year since 2020, but it has had little impact on the ground - black marketing of firecrackers continues unabated in the NCR and usually in the lead up to Diwali, there are massive violations, leaving the city engulfed in thick smog for several days.

Every year, Delhi faces a public health crisis before and during the winter season. The crisis begins with field fires in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, where farmers set hundreds of square kilometres of paddy fields on fire to clear the residue after harvesting, leading to a smog jacket over north India, especially Delhi. What adds to the crisis is that the period also coincides with Diwali and the smoke from firecrackers and the smoke from field fires is expected to increase the risk of smog. The smoke often leads to severe pollution in the capital's air, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) crossing 400 and even 450 and pollution levels reaching "severe" and "above severe".

On Monday, Rai said a joint action plan will soon be prepared involving the Delhi Police, Delhi Pollution Control Committee and the state revenue department to ensure strict enforcement of the ban. He said, "To avoid any confusion among people regarding firecrackers, this ban is applicable on all types of firecrackers. This ban will remain in force in Delhi till January 1, 2025, so that Delhiites can get relief from the problem of pollution caused by firecrackers. Referring to the possible loss to traders dealing in firecrackers, Rai said that the government's intention is to avoid imposing a ban at the last moment, which may cause inconvenience to both traders and the general public. He also said that the government has been very proactive in banning firecrackers in the last few years, he said that the ban on firecrackers is also part of the 21-point winter action plan being prepared by the government.