While the Supreme Court ban on sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR has been drawing mixed reactions from people in general, majority of working professionals in the region have supported such prohibition, noted a quick random survey by ASSOCHAM Social Development Foundation.
A departmental enquiry has been initiated, the official said.
The top court had by its November 11, 2016 order banned the sale and stocking of firecrackers, lifted the ban was lifted on September 12 this year, but, on a plea for the recall of the September 12 lifting order, the top court restored the ban till October 31, saying the September 12 order would come into operation from November 1.
‘Banning sale of firecrackers is a very welcome move as smoke from fireworks is a common trigger for patients of asthma, respiratory distress, bronchitis, persistent cough, burning eyes, itchy throat and other related problems.
Aggarwal said all his savings had gone down the drain, “much like other thousands of small and big shopkeepers” selling crackers.
He planned to sell the crackers at double the price as there is ban on the sale of fire crackers in the NCR area including Noida, Khan claimed.
While passing the order, the SC said that let us try out at least one Diwali without firecrackers.
About 35 per cent of the respondents said a ban on sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR must be welcomed considering the need to avoid a spike in pollution to hazardous levels even though many of them opined that the effectiveness of such a ban remains to be seen.
The apex court in 2005 had also directed that there should be a complete ban on bursting sound-emitting firecrackers between 10 PM and 6 AM.
It said the November 11 a year ago order, suspending all licences which “permit sale of fireworks, wholesale and retail within the territory of NCR”, was passed by the court keeping in view the situation that had arisen after the last Diwali.
Protesting against the apex court order banning firecrackers due to air pollution concerns around Diwali, 14 persons including three women were detained on Tuesday for bursting firecrackers in front of the Supreme Court here.
“No firecracker shop in the capital would be allowed to open till November 1”.
