'Pollution vs Livelihood': Tamil Nadu urges Delhi to lift the ban on crackers

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has urged Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal to allow the sale of firecrackers. Because the livelihood of lakhs of workers is at stake in the cracker manufacturing industry in the state. Last month, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee had ordered a complete ban on the production, sale and use of all types of firecrackers till January 1.

Stalin said many factors contribute to air pollution and a balanced approach is needed on the issue. Urging Kejriwal to sell firecrackers within the permitted limits, he said it is a toss-up between rising pollution and livelihood.

Stalin said, “There are many causes of air pollution in cities, including vehicular and factory fumes. Therefore, taking into account the small amounts of pollution rising for a few days and the livelihoods involved, it is a balanced approach. Lakhs of workers are dependent on Tamil Nadu's firecracker industry for their livelihood, which is the largest in our country. If other states also ban firecrackers, it may lead to the closure of the entire industry."

The AAP government in Delhi has been following the practice of banning firecrackers in winter for the last two years. An early announcement of the ban this year is likely to give the city administration and police enough time to put in place a mechanism to check the illegal manufacture, sale and use of firecrackers.

Despite restrictions, people burst crackers till late in the night in Delhi, Noida, Faridabad and Gurugram during festivals like Diwali. According to Delhi's pollution body, fireworks in Delhi on Diwali night (November 4, 2021) caused major changes in PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations.