Diwali Firecrackers Ban

The Supreme Court on Monday demanded an "immediate" response from the Delhi government and police to the ban - which seems to exist on paper only - against firecrackers during Diwali, a ban that is announced, and ignored, every year.

The air quality index in most of the 40 monitoring stations in Delhi remained in the "very poor" category.

Delhi Police keeps a strict vigil against the use of firecrackers in the city and has been on high alert following intelligence inputs.

Delhi woke up to a thick layer of smog this morning, and the air quality index (AQI) remained in the "very poor" category despite officials taking various anti-pollution measures.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday defended ban on firecrackers, saying it is necessary for protecting people from pollution and there is no 'Hindu-Muslim' angle to it.

As many as 2,206 cases have been filed across Tamil Nadu for violating the Supreme Court's 2-hour cap for bursting firecrackers during Deepavali celebrations, the state police said on Monday.

Despite a blanket ban on fireworks in Delhi and nearby cities in NCR due to pollution and worsening air quality, people engaged in bursting firecrackers on Diwali night.

The Delhi Fire Service received 208 calls of fire-related incidents, 22 of them caused by firecrackers, on Diwali, an official said on Monday.

The air quality in Delhi and nearby cities reached hazardous levels a day after Diwali with the widespread violation of the firecracker ban across the National Capital Region (NCR) on Sunday raising pollution concerns.

Buildings were decorated with earthen lamps and colourful lights as people across the country celebrated Diwali with pomp on Sunday and a relatively better air quality during the day than in previous years brought much relief to revellers in Delhi.

A stringent enforcement of the ban on firecrackers holds the promise of delivering the best air quality on Diwali day in eight years for Delhi on Sunday.

On Diwali, state governments have given a limited time window to burst firecrackers in accordance with the Supreme Court order.

Around 32 percent families are planning to burst firecrackers in Delhi, while 43 per cent cited concerns about pollution as the reason for not doing so, according to a survey by a community social media platform.

The Chhattisgarh government has issued an advisory allowing the bursting of firecrackers for two hours on the occasion of Diwali, Chhath, Guruparva, Christmas and New Year. The time windows for Diwali would be between 8 pm and 10 pm.

In a joint meeting of states with the Centre on Friday, the Delhi government urged the Union environment ministry to impose a complete ban on firecracker burning and the movement of diesel buses across the National Capital Region.

The Supreme Court on Monday demanded an "immediate" response from the Delhi government and police to the ban - which seems to exist on paper only - against firecrackers during Diwali, a ban that is announced, and ignored, every year.

The air quality index in most of the 40 monitoring stations in Delhi remained in the "very poor" category.

Delhi Police keeps a strict vigil against the use of firecrackers in the city and has been on high alert following intelligence inputs.

Delhi woke up to a thick layer of smog this morning, and the air quality index (AQI) remained in the "very poor" category despite officials taking various anti-pollution measures.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday defended ban on firecrackers, saying it is necessary for protecting people from pollution and there is no 'Hindu-Muslim' angle to it.

As many as 2,206 cases have been filed across Tamil Nadu for violating the Supreme Court's 2-hour cap for bursting firecrackers during Deepavali celebrations, the state police said on Monday.

Despite a blanket ban on fireworks in Delhi and nearby cities in NCR due to pollution and worsening air quality, people engaged in bursting firecrackers on Diwali night.

The Delhi Fire Service received 208 calls of fire-related incidents, 22 of them caused by firecrackers, on Diwali, an official said on Monday.

The air quality in Delhi and nearby cities reached hazardous levels a day after Diwali with the widespread violation of the firecracker ban across the National Capital Region (NCR) on Sunday raising pollution concerns.

Buildings were decorated with earthen lamps and colourful lights as people across the country celebrated Diwali with pomp on Sunday and a relatively better air quality during the day than in previous years brought much relief to revellers in Delhi.

A stringent enforcement of the ban on firecrackers holds the promise of delivering the best air quality on Diwali day in eight years for Delhi on Sunday.

On Diwali, state governments have given a limited time window to burst firecrackers in accordance with the Supreme Court order.

Around 32 percent families are planning to burst firecrackers in Delhi, while 43 per cent cited concerns about pollution as the reason for not doing so, according to a survey by a community social media platform.

The Chhattisgarh government has issued an advisory allowing the bursting of firecrackers for two hours on the occasion of Diwali, Chhath, Guruparva, Christmas and New Year. The time windows for Diwali would be between 8 pm and 10 pm.

In a joint meeting of states with the Centre on Friday, the Delhi government urged the Union environment ministry to impose a complete ban on firecracker burning and the movement of diesel buses across the National Capital Region.