SC directs states to decide on complete firecracker ban amid rising pollution

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has directed states in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) to decide on imposing a year-round ban on firecrackers to address rising air and noise pollution.

A bench comprising Justices Abhay S. Oka and Augustine George Masih instructed the governments of Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan to inform the court of their decisions, ensuring a comprehensive record.

The court said that a complete ban would also apply to the manufacture, storage, sale, and distribution of firecrackers. The directive was issued during a hearing on air pollution in the capital.

Additionally, the court urged government departments to adopt electric vehicles to further curb pollution.

The restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) will remain in place until the Air Quality Index (AQI) improves. Residents in Delhi-NCR often face severe air pollution from October to December, prompting the court’s intervention.

Previously, the Supreme Court criticized the Delhi government, Delhi Police, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, and pollution control authorities for failing to effectively enforce existing restrictions.