It will be a cracker-free Diwali as the Delhi government on Monday ordered a complete ban on manufacturing, storage, sale and bursting of all kinds of firecrackers in the National Capital Territory of Delhi till January 1, 2025.

A ban was also imposed on the sale and delivery of firecrackers through online marketing platforms.

“There will be a ‘complete ban’ on all kinds of firecrackers regarding manufacturing, storage, sale (including delivery through online marketing platforms) and bursting of all kinds of firecrackers until 01.01. 2025 in NCT of Delhi”, a letter by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to the Commissioner of Police.

The Delhi government also asked the National Capital Police to implement the instructions and requested that daily reports on action taken be submitted to the DPCC.

Pollution in Delhi

The announcement of banning firecrackers in Delhi comes after the capital witnessed an increase in pollution levels on Sunday, a day after Dussehra celebrations.

Delhi’s air quality has improved from ‘moderate’ to ‘poor’ category. According to data from the Central Pollution Control Bureau, the capital’s air quality remained in the “poor” category as of Monday noon, with an air quality index (AQI) of 228.

Meanwhile, the Center has been closely monitoring the pollution situation in Delhi before taking anti-air pollution measures under the first stage of the Phased Response Action Plan (GRAP).

Delhi government asks people to cooperate

In an article on X, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai urged citizens of the national capital to cooperate. “In view of increasing pollution in winter, a ban has been imposed on production, storage, sale and use of firecrackers till January 1. The Delhi government has issued instructions regarding this ban. I seek cooperation from all Delhiites,” he said.

सर्दियों में बढ़ते प्रदूषण को देखते हुए आज से जनवरी तक पटाखों के उत्पादन ,भंडारण ,बिक्री व ोग पर प्रतिबंध लागू।
प्रतिबंध को लेकर दिल्ली सरकार ने जारी किया ्देश।
सभी दिल्ली वालों से सहयोग का अनुरोध। pic.twitter.com/ZrJuMaB1oW

– Gopal Rai (@AapKaGopalRai) October 14, 2024

The ban on firecrackers is part of the Delhi government’s 21-point winter action plan.

On September 25, Rai had said that the ban on firecrackers would be implemented as soon as a notification was issued.

Rai also recently wrote a letter to Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, inviting him to hold an “urgent” meeting to discuss the use of artificial rain during peak pollution periods in Delhi.

The Delhi minister pointed out that with Diwali approaching, the air quality is likely to become hazardous in the national capital in early November and, according to him, there is “already” a delay of around a month into cloud seeding efforts in the city.

In the letter dated October 10, Rai also said that the use of artificial rain can be used as an emergency measure to curb excess pollution in the city, according to the Delhi government’s exploration.

Delhi bans firecrackers, it’s nothing new

The Delhi government’s decision to ban firecrackers is not new since such a ban was first implemented in 2017 following a Supreme Court inquiry into the impact of the bursting of firecrackers on the air quality of the capital.

In 2018, the apex court banned all conventional firecrackers in Delhi-NCR, but allowed bursting of green crackers not containing barium salts.

However, due to the difficulty in distinguishing green crackers from conventional crackers, the government has imposed a blanket ban on all crackers every winter since 2020.

With the contribution of agencies.