Firecrackers banned in Indian capital to combat air pollution

NEW DELHI, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) — The local government of the Indian capital territory Monday imposed a complete ban on the manufacturing, storage, sale and use of firecrackers in the national capital until Jan. 1, 2025.
The efforts to combat air pollution were announced by Delhi’s department of environment through an official order.
“There will be a complete ban on all kinds of firecrackers on manufacturing, storage, selling (including delivery through online marketing platforms) and bursting of all kinds of firecrackers up to 01.01.2025 in the territory of National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi,” said the order.
Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai urged local residents to support the government’s efforts to curb air pollution.
“In view of the increasing pollution in winter, a ban has been imposed on the production, storage, sale and use of firecrackers from today till Jan. 1,” Rai said. “Delhi government issued instructions regarding the ban. Request for cooperation from all Delhiites.”
The department of environment has also directed police to implement the directions.
This is the fifth consecutive year of the ban on firecrackers in the capital region.
The ban will remain effective during the Hindu festival of Diwali, which will be celebrated on Nov. 1.
Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, will be celebrated next month. People in India usually set off firecrackers as part of celebrating the festival.
For the past several years, it has been observed immediately after Diwali night that a thick blanket of smoke engulfs the city and outskirts. The air quality worsens because of the rampant bursting of firecrackers, which subsequently pushes air pollution levels to the “severe-plus emergency” category (above 500).
Authorities have been urging people to avoid bursting crackers on Diwali, an appeal that often gets ignored.
Indian capital city Delhi is among the topmost polluted cities in the world.
Industrial activities and vehicular traffic are significant contributors to air pollution in the city, along with rampant construction. In past years, every year ahead of winter the air quality in Delhi becomes hazardous.
The situation often worsens due to the rise in emissions from stubble burning in neighboring states of Punjab and Haryana, which increases the concentration of prominent pollutants — PM 2.5 and PM 10 — in the air, much beyond the safety limits. ■