Thread by @BiIndia

NGT bans firecrackers across India in cities with ‘poor’ air quality or worse

#FirecrackersBan #airpollution #Diwali

businessinsider.in/india/news/ngt…

The National Green Tribunal has banned the sale or use of all kinds of firecrackers in #DelhiNCR from midnight today (November 9) till November 30.

#FirecrackersBan #airpollution #Diwali

The bench clarified that the direction would apply to all cities and towns in the country where the average of ambient air quality during November fell under the 'poor' and above categories.

#FirecrackersBan #airpollution #Diwali

"The cities/towns where air quality is 'moderate' or below, only green crackers be sold, and the timings for use and bursting of crackers be restricted to two hours during festivals like #Diwali, Chhath, New Year/Christmas Eve etc., as may be specified by the state concerned.

"At other places, ban/restrictions are optional for the authorities, but if there are more stringent measures under orders of the authorities, the same will prevail," the bench said.

#FirecrackersBan #airpollution #Diwali

The NGT also directed all states and Union Territories to initiate special drives to contain #airpollution from all sources in view of the potential of aggravation of #COVID19.

#FirecrackersBan #Diwali

This came after several other states including Karnataka, Odisha, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Sikkim banned crackers already.

#FirecrackersBan #airpollution #Diwali