With Diwali just around the corner, celebration and excitement in full swing among the citizens of India, High Court has ordered a ban on firecrackers.
This ban has spread a little fretfulness among the people. Many are against the ban; however the Doctors, environmentalists nod positively towards the Supreme Court ban on firecrackers in Delhi-NCR region.
Considering the fact that in 2016, Delhi’s air pollution levels stood at “severe” with the average PM2.5 level being recorded at over 700g/m³ which was 29 times above WHO standards, hence, the Court has decided to ban the sale of firecrackers.
According to experts, the air quality deteriorates drastically around Diwali as a thick layer of smog, mixed with dangerous chemicals, swallow up the city. Last year post-Diwali, Delhi experienced darkness in the morning as a dense blanket of smog turned the city into a chamber of noxious and cancer-causing pollutants.
Concerned with such health hazards, even Bombay High Court has held that there will be no sale of firecrackers in residential areas. But such ban will affect to the traders and businessmen dealing with firecrackers very badly.
Also, Delhi is a capital of India and one of the major metro city in the Country embrace many Industrial/commercial space. Delhi is comparatively populated city with numerous trades around the clock making it one of the busiest cities in the Country. Due to which the pollution here is out of control. State Government has been taking many steps to control the increasing pollution. Like odd and even number vehicles rule was implemented.
Critics have objected the ban saying if the ban is justifiable? Will this ban not affect the enthusiasm of celebration? Firecrackers are a part of the celebration. Was it not possible for Supreme Court to set the limit on the use of firecrackers instead of banning it completely? Which would have saved the fights and objection and the anger among the people? This ban may also lead to the illegal sale of the firecracker, raising the corruption.
But Supreme Court ruling is in favour of a majority of citizens and not in the interest of few people. SC is said to test itself to find out whether there would be a positive effect of this suspension of such pollution, particularly during Diwali time. This ban is called a health emergency.
In fact, firecrackers are not only a root cause of air pollution but also noise pollution, water pollution, public nuisance, child labour, garbage, fire accidents, etc. In the making of firecrackers, almost 70% child labour is involved and these child labour are said to suffer from related diseases.
Use of firecrackers was never a part of age-old Diwali celebration. Diwali is known as festivals of lights. Hence, habitat/ adobe/shops and surroundings are lit up during the Diwali period. Meeting and greeting each other with sweets is an age-old Diwali celebration about.
If firecrackers are polluting the air and spreading chemicals and harming the health of the public at large, such ban seems to be justifiable.
Happy safe, healthy and wealthy Diwali to all my readers!
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