The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed the petitions filed against the year-long ban on the sale, construction and storage of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR. The court advised the petitioners to improve the quality of green firecrackers and reduce their emissions, only then expect relief.
The Supreme Court gave this decision based on the report of the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) and CSIR (CSIR), which found that green firecrackers contains 30% less pollution than traditional firecrackers from green firecrackers.
Cracker manufacturers advise to improve
The court said that it is the responsibility of the cracker manufacturers to make green firecrackers further. If the pollution caused by green firecrackers comes to a minimum level, the ban can be reconsidered. The Supreme Court said that the Delhi and Haryana governments have implemented the ban on firecrackers effectively, including ban on online sale. At the same time, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan were instructed to implement this ban and submit the compliance report in the court within two weeks.
Strictness on burning stubble
The Supreme Court also issued instructions on the issue of burning stubble. The court asked all NCR states to strictly implement the instructions issued by the Air Quality Management Commission (CAQM). The NCR states have been ordered to constitute a committee under the leadership of its Chief Secretary, which will monitor the implementation of these instructions. Apart from this, the report will have to be submitted to CAQM by the 10th of every month. If necessary, CAQM can ask for new instructions from the Supreme Court based on this report.