Delhi govt bans storage, sale, use of firecrackers during Diwali

New Delhi: The Delhi government on Wednesday banned the storage, sale and use of firecrackers during Diwali owing to the severe pollution levels in the city.

“Seeing the severe pollution levels in the national capital for the last three years during Diwali, a complete ban is being imposed on the storage, sale and use of all types of firecrackers in Delhi this time, just like last year,” Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi.

“Last year, the ban was imposed after traders had already stored firecrackers for sale, which had resulted in losses for them. I appeal to the traders to not stock up on firecrackers this time in view of the complete ban,” he said.

In view of a possible rise in the levels of air pollution with the onset of October in the national capital, the Delhi government on Tuesday ordered all concerned departments to begin preparing a winter action plan by September 21.

During a review meeting here, Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai directed the officials of the flood and irrigation department, all the three Municipal Corporations of Delhi (MCDs), New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Central Public Works Department (CPWD), Public Works Department (PWD), Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC), Delhi Jal Board (DJB), National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and the Delhi transport department to submit an action plan to the environment department by September 21.

“The Delhi Police had already issued temporary licences for the sale of firecrackers and because of this, traders and dealers suffered losses. There were also incidents of bursting of firecrackers in Delhi by residents due to easy availability. To avoid any such situation, we decided that the DPCC, like last year, will issue directions for complete ban on sale, use and storage of all types of firecrackers with immediate effect,” Mr Rai then added.