Delhi Government Enforces Year-Round Ban on Firecrackers Starting January 1, 2025
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New Delhi, Dec 20 (NationPress) On Thursday, the Delhi government announced a total prohibition on the use of all kinds of firecrackers within the national capital, effective immediately from January 1, 2025.
Per a government directive issued regarding this matter, the sale, storage, and use of firecrackers will face a comprehensive ban.
During the court proceedings on Thursday, the Delhi government informed the Supreme Court about the all-encompassing ban on firecrackers, citing rising air pollution levels in the city.
The directive from the Delhi government specifies that under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, measures have been taken to enforce a permanent ban on the manufacturing, storage, sale, and detonation of all kinds of firecrackers in the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi.
"Delhi is experiencing serious air pollution, particularly during the winter months, with levels of pollutants such as particulate matter concentrations (PM 2.5 and PM 10) significantly surpassing the acceptable standards for air quality. The entire Union Territory of Delhi has been designated as an Air Pollution Control Area under Sub-section (1) of Section 19 of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981," the directive further elaborated.
It stated that due to the critical situation, the use of firecrackers exacerbates air pollution during festive periods. Hence, the Delhi government has enforced a comprehensive ban on the sale and use of all firework types in the NCT of Delhi since 2020 under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
Considering previous instances of air quality deterioration from October to January, the prohibition on manufacturing, storage, and sale of all firecracker varieties in the National Capital Region will continue in the upcoming years; the scope of these directives has been broadened to include a total ban on (including distribution via online platforms) and the use of firecrackers.
