NEW DELHI, Sept 9 (Askume) – India ‘s capital Delhi will ban firecrackers during Diwali in November to control air pollution that reaches dangerous levels every winter, the country said on Monday .
New Delhi, a city of 20 million people, is the world’s most polluted capital, with air quality worsening during the winter that begins in October because of low temperatures and persistent winds that cause emissions to soar.
The city has banned the use of smokeless firecrackers for the past few years, but enforcement has been difficult , especially during Diwali, when people burst firecrackers in celebration despite the threat of jail terms and fines.
Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said in a statement, “Like last year, this time too there is a complete ban on the production, storage, sale and use of all types of firecrackers to protect people from pollution.”
Rai’s office said the ban would remain in place until January 1, and one of his aides said an order to implement the ban would be issued “in the coming days” and would take effect before Diwali celebrations on November 1.
Emissions from crop residue burning in Delhi’s neighbours typically spike during festival time, causing the concentration of fine aerosols in the air to rise several times above the safe limits set by the World Health Organisation.
Some Hindus believe that the ban on burning firecrackers on Diwali is an attempt to interfere with their religious activities. The government had earlier responded to such criticism by saying that the ban was aimed at saving lives.
This is one of the several measures taken every year to control air pollution in the capital.
