Supreme Court
The Supreme Court on Friday said increasing air pollution is a “gross” problem and the measures required to deal with it should also be “drastic”. Along with this, the court asked the governments of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to impose a complete ban on firecrackers in their areas falling under the National Capital Region. A bench of Justices A S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan took note of the fact that like Delhi, the Rajasthan government has also imposed a permanent and complete ban on the sale and bursting of firecrackers in the NCR areas of the state and Uttar Pradesh and Haryana have also imposed a permanent and complete ban on the sale and bursting of firecrackers in the NCR areas of the state. Told to do the same.
The bench said that until these two states pass orders, its earlier direction banning firecrackers will be extended till the next date of hearing of the case, which is March 24.
Supreme Court is not ready even for green firecrackers
The bench said, “Environmental problems are grave, hence drastic measures are required.” Also said that the court will have to take action and pass strict orders, because other organs of the government are not bothered by this. The bench said it would also hear pleas against the ban on firms involved in the manufacturing and sale of firecrackers on the next date. When a lawyer requested the court to lift the complete ban as it also concerns the fundamental rights of manufacturers, the bench said that environmental issues come before their issues. After this the lawyer requested the court to allow at least green firecrackers. “We have to examine how green the green crackers are,” the bench said.
Ban instructions in Uttar Pradesh-Haryana like Delhi
The Supreme Court has also asked the Center to respond to the petitions of firecracker manufacturing firms. Earlier too, the court had directed the Uttar Pradesh and Haryana governments to impose a complete ban on firecrackers until further orders. The bench had said that the Delhi government has imposed a complete ban on the manufacture, storage and sale of firecrackers through online marketing throughout the year with immediate effect. The bench said, “We are of the view that this ban will be effective only if other states forming part of NCR also impose similar measures. Even the State of Rajasthan has imposed a similar ban in that part of Rajasthan. Which falls in NCR. At present, we direct the states of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to impose similar restrictions as imposed by the state of Delhi.”
Concern was expressed during Diwali
Expressing grave concern over the high levels of pollution in Delhi during Diwali, the top court had earlier objected to violation of court orders and said its directions on ban on firecrackers were “hardly followed”. The court was hearing a petition filed by M C Mehta in 1985, seeking directions to curb air pollution in the national capital and surrounding areas. (Input- PTI language)
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