Total ban on firecrackers: Top court to examine issue

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday said it would examine whether there should be a total ban on use of firecrackers as it noted that air pollution reached hazardous proportions during Diwali.

It said around 20-25 per cent of children in the city suffer from respiratory problems due to abnormally high levels of pollution during the festival.  

“Are we supposed to take a holistic approach and ban everything that contributes to pollution or take an ad-hoc approa-ch and simply ban firecrackers?” the SC bench asked. It also noted that air pollution posed a major threat to infants and the toxicity of the air increased exponentially after burning of crackers.

Senior advocate C.A. Sundaram, appearing for a firecracker manufacturer, argued that according to studies, the effect of ban on crackers on air pollution has been meagre. and that there should be a scientific study on the issue. The matter was listed for hearing on August 8.

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