New Delhi (ILNS): The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed a total ban on the sale or use of all kinds of firecrackers in the NCR from the midnight of November 9 -10 to the midnight of November 30 – December 1, 2020.

The bench headed by Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, however, said that the order will be reviewed and has posted the matter for consideration on December 1.

The Tribunal passed the above order in a suo motu case relating to pollution by use of firecrackers, aggravating the menace of Covid-19 pandemic, posing higher danger to the lives and health of vulnerable groups.

While passing the order the Tribunal further said that the direction with regard to use of firecrackers will also apply to all cities/towns in the country where the average of ambient air quality during November (as per available data of last year) fall under ‘poor’ and above (worse) category.

The Tribunal further directed that the cities/towns where air quality is ‘moderate’ or below, only green crackers be sold and the timings for use and bursting of crackers be restricted to two hours during festivals, like Diwali, Chath, New Year/Christmas Eve etc., as may be specified by the concerned State.

The bench further clarified that the order has been passed on the pattern of direction issued by the Supreme Court. Further, if nothing is specified by the State, the timing will be 8 to 10 pm on Diwali and Gurupurb, 6 am to 8 am on Chath and 11.55 pm to 12.30 am during Christmas and New Year’s Eve (which have yet to come and do not fall in November but if ban continues) and not otherwise.

The Tribunal passed the order 

“having regard to increased adverse health impact of pollution by use of crackers on Covid-19, aggravating risk to lives and health which has led to ban by the Governments of Odisha, Rajasthan, Sikkim, UT Chandigarh, DPCC and by the Calcutta High Court on sale and use of crackers,, applying the ‘Sustainable Development’ and ‘Precautionary’ principles.”

Read the order here;