The Supreme Court of India has issued a nationwide ban on the use of firecrackers, expanding its previous directions against the use of barium and banned chemicals in firecrackers, which now apply to all states in India, not just Delhi-NCR.
The court’s decision came during a hearing of a plea regarding the use of firecrackers in the state of Rajasthan. The court further directed state governments to take appropriate measures to control air and noise pollution.
Regarding the state of Rajasthan, the court stated that no new directions are necessary, as previous orders provided guidance to minimize and prevent air and noise pollution. The court emphasized that these orders are binding on all states in the country, reported The Indian Express
The Supreme Court stressed that it is not solely responsible for environmental issues and that managing pollution is a collective duty. It also urged every citizen to celebrate Diwali in an environmentally friendly manner with fewer firecrackers.
In 2021, the SC issued directions to ensure that banned chemicals are not used in firecrackers before Diwali, clarifying that only firecrackers containing barium salts were banned. Green crackers were deemed permissible in line with the court’s directions from 2018.
During a hearing on November 7, 2023, the court observed that these days, adults are the ones who burst more firecrackers compared to children. The court also directed the state of Rajasthan to take immediate steps to control pollution in Udaipur.
On September 22, the SC rejected a plea seeking the manufacture, sale, and use of firecrackers containing barium chemicals.
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