Delhi govt imposes ‘perpetual ban’ on firecrackers in city

The Delhi government on Thursday announced a “perpetual ban” on the manufacture, use, and sale of firecrackers, including online platforms, within the national capital, as per an official order.

AK Singh, Principal Secretary (Environment) of the Delhi government, enforced the ban under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The ban covers the manufacturing, storage, sale (including online delivery), and bursting of all types of firecrackers in Delhi.

This decision comes in response to the city’s persistent hazardous air pollution levels, which have already led to restrictions like bans on construction activities and the entry of trucks into the city. The order stated that Delhi experiences severe air pollution, especially during winter, with pollutant levels such as PM2.5 and PM10 exceeding permissible Ambient Air Quality standards.

Delhi has been declared an Air Pollution Control area under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. Given that firecrackers are a significant contributor to air pollution spikes during the festive season, the Delhi government has imposed a complete ban on them since 2020 under the same Act.

Citing past experiences of poor air quality from October to January, the order expands the scope of the ban to include a year-round prohibition on manufacturing, storage, sale (including online platforms), and use of all types of firecrackers in Delhi. This move is aimed at preventing the buildup of a supply chain during non-ban periods.

The Supreme Court recently directed the Delhi government to propose effective measures to enforce the firecracker ban and consider a perpetual ban. According to the order, earlier bans (such as the one until January 1, 2025) were observed to be ineffective due to their limited duration, which allowed prior manufacturing, storage, and sale, creating a supply chain even during banned periods.

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The new perpetual ban under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, seeks to eliminate such loopholes by prohibiting firecracker activities throughout the year. It aims to send a clear message to all stakeholders, ensuring strict compliance and effective enforcement.

Additionally, the Delhi Police and the Divisional Commissioner have been instructed to implement the ban rigorously within their respective jurisdictions. Violations of the directives under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, will attract penalties under Section 15 of the Act, as stated in the order.

(With inputs from PTI)