Supreme Court pushes for uniform firecracker ban across NCR | Fusion - WeRIndia

Air pollution in Delhi-NCR has reached alarming levels, prompting the Supreme Court to call for stronger measures.

On Thursday, the court instructed Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to impose a complete ban on firecrackers, aligning with Delhi’s year-round prohibition.

The directive was issued by a bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih.

The decision came after differing stances from Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh regarding firecracker restrictions.

The court emphasized the need for uniform regulations across NCR to effectively combat air and noise pollution.

Delhi had already informed the court of its decision to extend the firecracker ban throughout the year.

Advocate Aparajita Singh confirmed this development. He is acting as amicus curiae.

Rajasthan followed suit with a complete ban in NCR areas, while Haryana allowed only the sale of green crackers. However, Uttar Pradesh opposed a total ban, sparking the court’s intervention.

The bench stressed that a consistent ban across all NCR states would significantly reduce pollution.

It directed Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to enforce regulations similar to Delhi’s, prohibiting the manufacture, storage, sale, and bursting of all types of firecrackers.

In addition to firecracker bans, the court addressed the impact of Stage-IV restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan.

These restrictions, enforced during severe pollution, include halting construction activities and limiting non-essential truck entry into Delhi. Recognizing the hardships faced by workers due to these measures, the court directed all states to identify affected labourers and provide them with financial assistance.

The bench highlighted the need to avoid relying solely on online registration data for this process.

The Supreme Court’s actions reflect its determination to tackle the escalating pollution crisis in Delhi-NCR.

The court urged coordinating efforts among states and addressing the economic fallout of anti-pollution measures. Thus, it aims to balance environmental protection with social welfare.

The court’s directives mark a crucial step toward improving air quality and safeguarding public health in one of India’s most polluted regions.

With NCR states expected to comply, residents may soon witness a significant reduction in pollution-related challenges.

Image Credit: Sindugab, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Image Reference: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fire_crackers%27_spark_on_Deepawali_festival_Tamilnadu_India.jpg