The Calcutta High Court has issued a new order regarding firecrackers due to the Corona epidemic. Yesterday, the court banned fireworks in West Bengal for this Diwali. The court said in its order that selling and bursting of firecrackers in West Bengal will be prohibited this year.
In accordance with a 2018 order of the apex court, the Delhi government has said it will allow the use, manufacture and sale of only green crackers this Diwali and formed squads to check on compliance.
National Green Tribunal (NGT) today sought the opinion of the MoEF&CC and other states on the issue of banning firecrackers from November 7 to 30 in a plea alleging that the increase in pollution may deteriorate the COVID-19 pandemic situation in Delhi.
The Delhi High Court today directed the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to treat as a representation a plea seeking a ban on bursting of crackers and burning effigies of Ravana during the festival of Diwali.
With the festival season nearing and cinemas and restaurants opening up, the next cycle of the pandemic could be upon us. Just one super-spreader in a large gathering can trigger an explosion of new cases.