Supreme Court Expands Firecracker Ban in NCR Regions of UP and Haryana to Mitigate Air Pollution

New Delhi, Jan 17 (NationPress) In an effort to combat air pollution in the national capital, the Supreme Court on Friday prolonged the enforcement of the directives issued by the governments of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, which had imposed a total ban on firecrackers within the NCR region.

A bench led by Justice Abhay S. Oka announced that the ban, which was initially set to expire on January 17, will continue until further notice. The next hearing is scheduled for March 24, during which the intervention application submitted by a federation of fireworks merchants will also be addressed. The bench stated, “Why should we hear you? You must convince us that igniting firecrackers does not contribute to pollution. You may sell firecrackers in other regions of India where there is no ban. We will listen to you on the upcoming date.” In a previous session, the Justice Oka-led bench indicated that the bans previously instituted by the Delhi and Rajasthan governments would only be implemented once other states adopted similar measures. The apex court was reviewing a public interest litigation (PIL) concerning pollution control in Delhi and the surrounding NCR area. It was revealed during the proceedings that while Haryana had allowed the use of green crackers, Rajasthan had enforced a total firecracker ban in the NCR region. The Supreme Court had instructed the Uttar Pradesh and Haryana governments to enact a firecracker ban consistent with the regulations in Delhi. Previously, the Supreme Court had urged the state governments of Delhi and neighboring regions to decide on a permanent prohibition regarding firecracker usage. It requested that the state governments document their positions and indicated the possibility of issuing essential guidelines on the manufacturing, storage, sale, and distribution of firecrackers. "The firecracker ban will aid not only in reducing air pollution but will also help mitigate noise pollution. We will contemplate issuing necessary directives to the state governments regarding the firecracker prohibition," it stated. Earlier in November 2024, after Diwali, the Supreme Court criticized the inadequate enforcement of the firecracker ban in the national capital and reprimanded the Delhi government for its lack of compliance. It requested an affidavit from the Delhi government and the Police Commissioner detailing the measures taken to enforce the ban. The apex court suggested that the facilities of firecracker vendors should be sealed and also called for a prohibition on the importation of firecrackers from neighboring states. IANS PDS/