Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai has announced that there will be a "complete ban" on the production, storage sale and use of firecrackers in the national capital till January 1, 2023.
"To protect people from the hazards of air pollution like last year, Production, storage, sale and use of all types of firecrackers are being completely banned in Delhi," Mr Rai tweeted.
Mr Rai said there will be a ban on online sale of firecrackers too, and an action plan will be chalked out after discussions with the Delhi police, Delhi Pollution Control Committee and Revenue Department to ensure strict enforcement of the ban.
इस बार दिल्ली में पटाखों की ऑनलाइन बिक्री / डिलीवरी पर भी प्रतिबंध रहेगा। यह प्रतिबंध 1 जनवरी 2023 तक लागू रहेगा।
— Gopal Rai (@AapKaGopalRai) September 7, 2022
प्रतिबंध को कड़ाई से लागू करने को लेकर दिल्ली पुलिस, DPCC और राजस्व विभाग के साथ मिलकर कार्य योजना बनाई जाएगी।
Diwali will be celebrated in the last week of October this year.
The Delhi government had banned the sale and use of firecrackers last Diwali too due to concerns over alarming air pollution levels.
In addition to firecrackers, air pollution in Delhi during the Diwali period is made worse by stubble burning - a contentious practice - in neighbouring states like Haryana and Punjab.
Last month, Gopal Rai had said that the Delhi government will launch a 15-point action plan in October to fight air pollution in winter.
In 2020, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had imposed a total ban on the sale or use of all kinds of firecrackers in Delhi and adjoining areas from November 9 midnight to November 30 midnight.
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