India’s capital bans fireworks to curb air pollution

The Indian capital, Delhi, has imposed a complete ban on the manufacturing, storage, sale, and use of fireworks until January 1, 2025, in an effort to combat severe air pollution.

The Delhi Department of Environment announced this decision through an official order on Monday.

“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,” the order stated.

Delhi’s Environment Minister, Gopal Rai, urged citizens to cooperate with the government’s initiative to curb pollution, especially as winter approaches.

He emphasised the need for public support: “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. Delhi government issued instructions regarding the ban. Request for cooperation from all Delhiites.”

Police authorities have been instructed to ensure the strict implementation of this ban. This marks the fifth consecutive year that firecrackers have been banned in Delhi.

The ban includes the period of the Hindu festival Diwali, set to be celebrated on November 1, during which people traditionally set off firecrackers.

However, the government’s concerns stem from the significant rise in air pollution after Diwali, when a thick layer of smoke blankets the city, pushing pollution levels into the “severe-plus emergency” category, with air quality index readings above 500.

Delhi is one of the most polluted cities globally, with industrial emissions, vehicular traffic, and rampant construction being key contributors to its poor air quality.

Each year, the city faces hazardous air conditions ahead of winter, which are exacerbated by the practice of stubble burning in the neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana, further worsening the concentration of pollutants such as PM 2.5 and PM 10.

NAN

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