New Delhi: The Delhi government on Wednesday announced that all sorts of firecrackers have been banned in the national capital in order to curb air pollution. The ban will remain in effect till January next year, informed Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai. "In order to save people from the danger of pollution in Delhi, like last year, this time also the production, storage, sale and use of all types of firecrackers are being completely banned, so that people's lives can be saved," Rai tweeted.
The ban has also been imposed on online sale and delivery of crackers which will remain in effect till January 1, 2023.
"This time there will also be a ban on online sale/delivery of firecrackers in Delhi. This restriction will remain in force till January 1, 2023. An action plan will be drawn up with Delhi Police, DPCC and Revenue Department for strict enforcement of the ban," the Minister said.
The move comes just a month before Dussehra and Diwali where firecrackers mark the festivity. The national capital also struggles through the problem of smog every year in the months of October and November which bornes out of pollution by firecrackers and stubble burning in the neighbouring states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
The pollution results in Air Quality Index being recorded above the 500-mark and classified as severly bad air quality.
Last in year in September too, the Delhi government had banned sale and bursting of firecrackers upto January 1, 2022 with the punishment being a fine upto Rupees 10,000 in residential and Rupees 20,000 in silent zones.