Today, On 4th November, The Supreme court reprimanded the Delhi government and police, demanding to know what measures have been implemented to enforce the firecracker ban this year and what plans are in place for next year. The court issued notices to both the government and law enforcement agencies, emphasizing the importance of effective enforcement of the ban to ensure public safety. This move highlights the judiciary’s commitment to addressing environmental concerns related to firecracker use during festivals.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court demanded an “immediate” response from the Delhi government and police regarding the firecracker ban during Diwali, which has often existed only on paper.
This annual ban, which is announced but frequently ignored, contributes to a suffocating layer of toxic air that envelops the national capital and surrounding areas for days after the festival.
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The court issued notices to the Delhi government, led by the Aam Aadmi Party, and to the police, which reports to the Union Home Minister, requesting details “on the measures taken to implement and enforce the ban this year, as well as plans for the next year to enforce a complete ban on firecrackers.”
Justice Abhay S. Oka and Justice Augustine George Masih during the ongoing hearing related to the recurring air quality crisis in Delhi remarked ,
“There are widespread news reports that the ban on firecrackers (in Delhi NCR) was not implemented at all… this was supposed to be an important measure to reduce pollution,”
The court inquired,
“What is the order (on banning of firecrackers)… how is it being implemented… something has to be worked out,”
The Delhi government, urging it to establish a mechanism, “At least for next year” to prevent Delhi from being engulfed in air pollutants in 2025.
On Monday morning, the air quality index (AQI) in Delhi dropped sharply, even four days after Diwali, reaching the ‘severe’ category.
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Many neighborhoods, including Anand Vihar, Rohini, Ashok Vihar, and Vivek Vihar, recorded AQI levels exceeding 400 (on a scale of 500). Even affluent areas like Lodi Road were not spared from the hazardous air quality.
As of 7 AM, the 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 373, nearly matching the season’s highest level of 382 recorded on Sunday. This is particularly troubling given that there has been a 15 percent reduction in the impact of farm fires on air pollution.
The situation in the National Capital Region (NCR) remains alarming, with Noida registering an AQI of 305, Ghaziabad at 295, and Gurugram at 276. Surrounding states also reported high AQI levels, such as Hisar in Haryana at 372, and Sriganganagar (397) and Bharatpur (320) in Rajasthan.