The Supreme Court criticised the Delhi government on Monday for not tackling the increasing air pollution in the capital after the Diwali festivities.
A bench led by Justice S Oka remarked that the ban on firecrackers in Delhi was "barely enforced," and the impact was clearly evident as pollution levels reached their peak on Diwali. The court furthermore requested the Delhi government to demonstrate how the ban was enforced.
The bench demanded an urgent reply from the Delhi government, asking them to provide evidence of the order that imposed the firecracker ban in the city.
“We want Delhi to immediately respond to this. Whose responsibility was it to ensure? Was the order passed under the Environment Protection Act? We want to hear this immediately," it said.
Justice Oka urged the Delhi government and other officials to consider a "perpetual ban" on firecrackers, which are a major contributor to air pollution in the capital. He pointed out that individuals were bringing firecrackers from neighbouring states and proposed a public awareness campaign before Diwali to improve the public’s understanding of the issue.
The court also sent a notice to the Commissioner of Delhi Police and directed the government and police to establish a system to enforce the ban to prevent a recurrence of this situation in the following year.
As witnessed over several years, the Delhi government’s firecracker ban has proven ineffective in controlling air pollution as hundreds burst firecrackers on each occasion. Delhi government banned firecrackers completely back in 2017, however, PM2.5 concentration was 100 per cent higher on the night of Diwali than on any regular day in 2023.
Adding to the crisis is the burning of crop residue in neighbouring states like Punjab and Haryana which also coincides with cooler temperatures that trap deadly smoke, leading to a surge in pollution.
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